10 key attributes of an effective supply chain

Transparency – supply chain processes and procedures should be transparent to all stakeholders. The higher the visibility, the easier it is to identify problems in the system
Speed – determine the speed of each process and procedure in the supply chain and assess how to improve on it. Benchmarking can play an important role here
Collaboration – sharing of information and key learnings among supply chain partners can drastically improve your supply chain
Trust – sharing of information and knowledge will lead to improved partnerships and trust
Consumer orientated – the consumer needs should always be the focus point of any supply chain system
Flexibility – a rigid supply chain system can not respond to market changes
Variability – a one size fits all solution is highly unlikely to work for all channels and customers segments
Ongoing assessment- supply chains are not static and consumer and retail trends need to be evaluated on a regular basis
Patience - all newly implemented systems require a patient approach as changes are unlikely to yield immediate results
Detailed approach – the devil is in the detail as small changes can have an enormous impact on your business