supply chain
Production-to-consumer pathway
A supply chain is the sequence of processes, organizations, and resources involved in producing and delivering a product—from raw materials through manufacturing to the end consumer.
The term emphasizes interconnection: disruption at any link affects the whole chain.
Supply chain issues delayed shipments for months.
Supply chain has become common in news coverage of shortages and global trade.
Storing goods commercially
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- transportationMoving people or goods
- freightGoods being transported
- shippingTransporting goods to destinations
delivery · trucking · cargo · 3PL · tracking · fulfillment · last-mile · pallets
Obtaining goods externally
- sourcingObtaining from suppliers
- vendorsThose who sell goods
- purchasingAcquiring through payment
- wholesaleBulk sales to merchants
retail · distribution · trade · merchandising · commodities · transactions · goods · sales
Points of connection
- hubCentral connection point
- linkagesPoints where things connect
- integrationCombining into a whole
- interdependencyMutual reliance between entities
connectivity · tiers · upstream · downstream · partners · visibility · traceability · end-to-end
Maximizing efficiency or performance
- leanLacking fat; incline
- just-in-timeExactly when required
- throughputProcessing rate over time
- streamliningMaking more aerodynamic or efficient
waste reduction · cycle time · kaizen · process improvement · bottleneck · lead time · continuous improvement · agility
Obtain from overseas
- exportForeign-bound sale
- tariffsTaxes on imports
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
- outsourcingThird-party task delegation
offshoring · multinational · globalization · trade barriers · regulations · cross-border · containerization · ports
Deficient supply of necessities
- delayEnforced waiting period
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- risk managementIdentifying and minimizing threats
- contingencyUncertain possible event
resilience · stockout · backorder · force majeure · pandemic · geopolitical · diversification · crisis
warehousing
Storing goods commercially
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- transportationMoving people or goods
- freightGoods being transported
shipping · delivery · trucking · cargo · 3PL · tracking · fulfillment · last-mile · pallets · forklift
procurement
Obtaining goods externally
- sourcingObtaining from suppliers
- vendorsThose who sell goods
- purchasingAcquiring through payment
wholesale · retail · distribution · trade · merchandising · commodities · transactions · goods · sales · demand
nodes
Points of connection
- hubCentral connection point
- linkagesPoints where things connect
- integrationCombining into a whole
interdependency · connectivity · tiers · upstream · downstream · partners · visibility · traceability · end-to-end · ecosystem
optimization
Maximizing efficiency or performance
- leanLacking fat; incline
- just-in-timeExactly when required
- throughputProcessing rate over time
streamlining · waste reduction · cycle time · kaizen · process improvement · bottleneck · lead time · continuous improvement · agility · responsiveness
import
Obtain from overseas
outsourcing · offshoring · multinational · globalization · trade barriers · regulations · cross-border · containerization · ports · free trade zones
shortage
Deficient supply of necessities
- delayEnforced waiting period
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- risk managementIdentifying and minimizing threats
contingency · resilience · stockout · backorder · force majeure · pandemic · geopolitical · diversification · crisis · vulnerability
- business servicesconsulting, software, legal services, coaching, training
- Auto Industryrecalls, dealerships, emissions standards, safety ratings, fuel economy
- resource managementbudget, budgeting, saving, allocation, allocating
- commercetrade, banking, merchant, imports, sales
- business termsfranchising, revenue stream, board meeting, gross margin, markdown
- economicsinflation, GDP, GNP, gross domestic product, gross national product
supply chainvertical integration
Owning multiple production stages
autarky · self-sufficiency · subsistence economy · cottage industry · domestic manufacturing
chain, supply, chains, supplies, supplied, supplier, chained, supplying, oversupply