Jim's Notes

Distribution
    activities that make products available to customers
     when, where and in the right quantity they want to 
     purchase them


       


   The Supply Chain
         a system of organizations, technology, activities, people,
         information, and resources involved in moving a product 
         from supplier to customer.
         (* A Marketing Channel is part of the Supply Chain )


         activities include transforming natural resources, raw 
         materials and components into a  finished product 


                                           Suppliers
                    
                                           Manufacturer                *


                                           Wholesaler                    *


                                            Retailer                        *


                                            Customer                     *


       Three main functional flows of the Supply Chain


                   Physical ( raw materials, components, product)


                   Information


                   Financial


   Supply Chain Management
         coordinates and integrates *key business processes of
         supply chain organizations from supplier to manufacturer
         to wholesaler to retailer to customer


         The *key business processes:


                   Physical flow
                   Information flow
                   Financial flow
                         


                  Primary Objective
                         fulfill customer needs by the most efficient 
                         use of Distribution resources 


                         make product available at the right time, 
                         the right place and in the right quantity
       


                         Another take:
                               match demand with supply with minimum          
                               inventory and cost