1. By: Gary Herwitz

2.  The managing partner of New York-based
CoMetrics Partners, LLC, Gary Herwitz
possesses more than three decades of
experience in financial and business services.
An accomplished leader, Gary Herwitz
provides expert guidance in such areas as
supply chain management, business
integration, and due diligence.

3.  Supply chain management entails all functions
associated with manufacturing a product or
developing a service and delivering it to the
end user. In today’s competitive business
environment, companies benefit significantly
from implementing the most efficient processes
possible for handling supply chain
requirements. Moreover, the increasingly
global nature of business makes it even more
important for profitability purposes that
companies establish streamlined, cost-effective
techniques for production and distribution.

4.  The supply chain progression includes
identification of sources for raw materials,
acquisition of these supplies, implementation of
efficient production and packaging processes,
sales, and distribution. Most companies that utilize
sound supply chain management principles launch
their programs with a plan that incorporates such
considerations as supply and demand cycles,
vendor reliability, consumer-market fluctuations,
and returns and replacement procedures. In
addition, supply chain management necessitates
cultivation of vendor relationships, inventory
controls, warehouse administration, and logistics.