___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Supply chain in business is those that can create a shield which offers them protection when times are tough . Robustness acknowledges that , sometimes , that shield will be breached - robust businesses plan , with their partners , to ensure that they can react quickly to unforeseen changes in the market . Responsibility means firmly establishing an end-to-end culture of quality , trust , and an understanding of the place that businesses have in the world .
Revealing strengths and weaknesses
It really does not matter how large or small a business is , how prominent its place in the market , or how comfortable and secure it feels in its relationships with suppliers . Every business can find potential improvements if they take the time and resource to look . Those seeking to reset and refactor their supply and value chains must carefully audit the practices and processes which enable those chains to function , taking stock of their successes and most importantly , failures .
Regular , comprehensive audits are a key step in taking a proactive approach to supplier management . It is not enough to monitor the position of direct suppliers . These analyses must reach throughout the chain , to discover potential weaknesses in secondary suppliers . They must reach materials markets , helping to predict potential shortages and inform decisions to overcome difficult market conditions . They must go as far as governmental and regulatory changes , to ensure all within the supply chain are fully in line with a responsible structure .
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