Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the management of a network of interconnected business processes involved in the ultimate provision of product and service packages required by end customers. Encompassing the strategic, tactical, and operational activities of a business, it spans all activities relating to the acquisition, movement, and storage of goods and related services from the point of origin to the ultimate point of consumption.

Strategic elements include, but are not limited to:

• Strategic Sourcing
• Decision Optimization
• Network Optimization
• Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration
• Product Lifecycle Management
• Center-Led Procurement and Organizational Alignment

Tactical elements include, but are not limited to:

• Contracts
• Risk Mitigation
• Production Planning
• Just-in-Time and Vendor Managed Inventory
• Operational Benchmarking
• Logistics Management

Operational elements include, but are not limited to:

• Forecasting and Demand Planning
• Production Planning
• Purchasing
• Warehouse Management
• Order Fulfillment
• Facility Management

For more information on these functions, see the appropriate glossary definitions, the e-Sourcing Wiki papers, and related blog entries on the Sourcing Innovation blog.