Retailers Calendar

Month
Capture real supply chain performance
6 Planning and pre-assessment
One of your daily strives is to get your goods and services to the right place, at the right time, and in the right
condition. Your supply chain functions involve several or all of the following activities: planning, sourcing,
producing, storing, transporting, and reverse logistics. The following three chapters will focus on identification and
management of environmental and social opportunities and risks linked to your supply chain functions. For this,
we use the term sustainable supply chain management (sustainable SCM).
By this we refer to a variety of approaches for the management of natural and human resources from the supplier
to your retailer’s shelves. Sustainable SCM emphasizes communication, collaboration, and coordination between
your retailer company’s supply chain functions and those of your suppliers, customers, and other service
providers. A high performing supply chain contributes to the bottom line through increased revenue, reduced
costs, improved asset utilization and enhanced customer service. You may also build critical intangible assets
such as product and service innovation, risk and opportunity management, alliances and networks, brand equity
and reputation.
Table 6.1 gives some general hints on where to start in your retailer’s case. Which supply chain functions are the
most relevant for your retailer? By working on which issues, can you create the most value for your retailer?
Your supply chain functions
Plan:
• Forecast supply/demand
• Design logistics network
Source:
• Source and procure
• Manage suppliers
Produce:
• Design and engineer
• Manufacture or convert
• Package
Store:
• Manage warehouse
• Receive, pick, pack
• Manage inventory
Are there any environmental and social actions that can potentially add value to
my supply chain performance?
• Can we increase the supply/demand forecast accuracy?
• Can we consider full life-cycle management of our products?
• Can we optimize supply chain network design?
• Do we source from the regions/networks/areas/ wherein sustainability considerations
are taken into account?
• Do we have a code of conduct presenting our social and environmental standards and
principles?
• How can we persuade and better monitor the compliance with our code of conduct on
the side of the suppliers and/or contractors?
• Can we design more environmentally-friendly products in our company?
• Can we reduce the ecological footprint of our production methods?
• Can we introduce packaging that is easier reusable and recyclable?
• Do we incorporate sustainability factors in warehouse development?
• Do we have storage systems in place assuring the proper storage life?
• Do we assess the energy consumption in our stores?
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