下面是教授Oswaldo Lorenzo对目前全球供应链话题 (Supply Chain Management) 的一个概述。他同时也是IE商学院Executive Master in Global Supply Chains的管理项目负责人，也可以参看该项目的Blog of Executive Master in Global Supply Chains 获得更深认识。
本月11日他受西班牙驻中国商会、英国和意大利驻中国使馆的邀请，将在广州对该领域内关键公司和商务人士作此话题的讲座。此次中国行，他还应全国精神文明、物质文明典型城市，拥有目前中国最大内陆港口的江南水乡张家港市政府及保税区的盛情相邀，为当地市政官员和工业园区作供应链管理的短期培训。

概述如下：Supply Chain Management (SCM) is increasingly seen as a strategic weapon for global companies. Managers are now using the SCM approach to run their businesses based on an integrative model rather than from the perspective of a single traditional business area, a single organization, or a single country. The SCM approach is allowing managers to integrate all resources, capabilities and processes under an end-to-end management model. As a consequence, SCM is no longer seen as a set of isolated operational and transactional tasks related to purchasing, warehousing, logistics, production and distribution.
Under this new management model, managers and experts acknowledge that today it is not companies that are competing; it is company networks, or supply chains. This involves, for example, the integration of the firm’s competencies with the capabilities of its global suppliers, channel partners, intermediaries or third-party service providers. All this involves the coordination of cross-border processes. Successful European cases include Inditex of Zara, Air Bus, and Ford in Almussafes.
And business organizations are not the only ones feeling the effects of the supply chain phenomenon. It is bringing with it challenges for societies and government worldwide as the negative effects of offshoring begin to be felt. The relocation of plants to Eastern Europe and Asia is seen as a threat by citizens and governments of western countries, whereas this redesign of the network should be viewed as more of a wake-up call than a danger, whereby developed countries refocus their capabilities more toward innovation and knowledge based activities.
Having said that, one of the main challenges companies and business schools are facing today is the shortage of skilled people to manage companies using a SCM approach. This cross-functional and worldwide role requires specialized training and long-term commitment, and supply chain managers are starting to reap the rewards. Companies worldwide have begun to build and encourage the supply chain career.
Finally, it is important to mention that SCM is still a novel trend in the business environment. Even though a number of successful examples are documented and well-known, some senior managers do not fully understand the benefits of managing a company under this approach. Perhaps it is because in some environments SCM is yet seen as a new way of talking about operations or processes, instead of seeing it as a broader approach for management that includes strategic issues, global perspective, cross-border team and process management.
Thanks to Prof. Oswaldo Lorenzo’s contribution to this Blog.

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