Introduction to Supply Chain Management

This note provides an introduction to supply chain management. The note examines the fundamentals of supply chain management and provides a framework for choosing the right supply chain to fit the product a company is making and the environment it is in. Using examples of companies such as P&G, Dell, Zara, and Seven Eleven Japan (SEJ), the note describes how a successful supply chain strategy can provide companies with increased market share, reduced costs, and improved customer service. The note can be used as an introductory reading for courses focusing on supply chain management or in operations management courses that include a supply chain module.