Supply Chain Analysis - management of the flow of information and products from earliest supplier to the ultimate consumer. This also includes the disposal of the product. Cost Driver Analysis - what processes or transactions create costs in the supply chain. Supplier management includes increasing communication and reducing the variability of the supply chain. Supplier management can also include supplier base reduction.
Most companies deal with more suppliers than needed.
By decreasing the supply base, a company can leverage its spend with fewer suppliers, therefore, getting better overall prices. There are various descriptions of supply chain management. The supply chain starts from the origin of the raw material and ends once the product has been discarded or recycled. Decrease inventory while still maintaining high customer service levels. Reduce the supplier base and develop supplier relationships in order to reduce overall costs.