To the average consumer, the only part of the chain that matters is the last mile delivery because that entails the product’s delivery to the store or directly to their home. But there is so much more to a supply chain than the final destination.
Even the smallest hiccup in the delivery process can have devastating consequences for your business, so establishing a logistics network that is cost and time-efficient is critical. Here is how to create an effective supply chain to give your company a leg up on the competition.
Create a Plan
The first step when creating any new item or system is to establish a plan for how you will reach your end goal. When organizing your thoughts, there are many things to consider about the current market for you and your customers.
You need to consider both the location where you produce your inventory and where the item will end up, as well as where your supplies are going to come from.
You should also plan whether you intend to make products to order or mass-produce them.
You also need to plan for how you will communicate the need for supplies and who will be responsible for ordering them.
Produce Your Product
After you have crafted a strategy for your network, the next step is to put that plan into action and produce the product. Start by ensuring that your supplier of materials can scale with your demand to avoid being forced to find a new partner.
It is during this step that everything from production to packaging will be completed. Consider all available data and market forecasts about consumer demand to avoid over or under-producing, and to manage your materials.
Get It Delivered
Getting your product out the door and to a storage facility should be your next concern. Methods of transport to consider include planes, automobiles, cargo barges, and trains.
When your item does reach the warehouse, it will typically sit there until it’s either shipped to your customer’s door or the store for resale. Because the consumer normally only sees this end of the supply chain process, making sure to meet their expectations is vital to client retention.
other valuable tips:
Supply and Demand: Keep Your Logistics Plan from Draining Your Budget
Company on Point: 4 Tips to Increase Efficiency in Your Business
Sending Things Back
No guide on how to create an effective supply chain would be complete without looking at how to handle product returns from your clients. There will be times during your career when a customer won’t be satisfied with your product, and there is nothing you can do that will change that.
When this does happen, it can be a great opportunity to help mend the bridge with the client by creating a return process that is simple and helps the customer move forward. Potential reasons for returns include product defects, accidental orders, and your product not being the one the customer needed.
Image Credit: create an effective supply chain by twenty20.com
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