Academic-Capital

Supply chain management and integration has important functions for businesses that desire to create higher levels of financial performance. Since all companies work with related companies in either formal or informal linkages, such as suppliers and distributors, it is important to ensure information is transferred effectively between entities to enhance operations on both sides. Research by Kannan & Keah (2010) show how companies that integrate their supply chains to a wider extent develop a number of advantages.  Supply chain management entails businesses associated with the development, building, distributing, and returning of products/services. It has been defined as the “ cross functional integration within the firm and across the network of firms that comprise the supply chain ” (Lambert, 2004). The management of supply chain has come to mean better integration with the supply chain elements to produce value.  Integration is the creation of inter-firm linkages

Supply chain management is a noteworthy avenue for product reach and emerging financial efficiencies. Products are sold online and distributed across the globe placing greater pressure on organizations to enhance delivery networks. Consumers in the 24/7 virtual world want to receive their products in a few days regardless of the country of origin. Research by Soltani, et. al. (2011) investigated the relationship between supply chain management (SCM) and Quality Management (QM) systems that further makes the case for improvements in inter-firm collaboration that enhances upstream and downstream efficiencies. In the global economy the supply chain is the life blood that keeps products moving through arteries/vines that wind their way through the hearts of companies and countries.   A product built in the U.S. may move through a number of different entities and nations in adherence to negotiated treaties before delivered at the consumer’s doorstep.   Company competitive posit