10 key attributes of an effective supply chain

1. Consumer focus- consumer needs should always be the focus point of any supply chain system.
2. 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.
3. Flexibility- a rigid supply chain system can not respond to market changes.
4. Variability- a one size fits all solution is highly unlikely to work for all channels and customer segments.
5. Detailed approach - the devil is in the detail as small changes can have an enormous impact on your business.
6. Transparency- supply chain processes and procedures should be transparent to all stakeholders. The higher the visibility, the easier to identify problems in the system.
7. Honesty- transparent sharing of information and knowledge will lead to improved partnerships and build trust.
8. Collaboration- through the sharing of information and key learnings between supply chain partners the system can drastically improve.
9. Patience- all newly implemented systems require a patient approach as changes are unlikely to yield immediate results
10. Constant assessment- supply chains are not static and consumer and retail trends need to be monitored and evaluated on a regular basis.