Happy New Year 2018!

Toyota has an effective supply chain strategy that puts value and efficiency first. It has adopted the Just-In-Time (JIT) system, which guarantees on-demand delivery of materials and components while cutting waste and inventory expenses. By employing a tiered supplier system and incorporating employees at all levels in cooperative improvement initiatives, Toyota also cultivates long-term relationships with its suppliers. The Toyota Production System (TPS) maximizes efficiency while reducing waste and overproduction. To match production schedules with market demand, the organization employs sophisticated demand forecasting systems. Toyota also uses buffer stockpiles for essential components and dual-sourcing tactics to proactively manage supply chain risks. For improved supply chain monitoring and predictive analytics, the business incorporates cutting-edge digital technologies like IoT and AI.

In SCM, a supply chain manager coordinates the logistics of all the aspects of the supply chain which consists of five parts: the plan or strategy, the source of raw materials and services, manufacturing, i.e., productivity and efficiency, delivery and logistics, the return system for defective and unwanted goods etc. The phenomenon that fluctuation in orders increases as one moves up the supply chain from retailers to wholesalers to manufacturers to suppliers is referred to the bullwhip effect. Managers can help achieve coordination in supply chain by aligning goals and incentives across different functions and stages of the supply chain. When supply chain moves from retailers to wholesalers to manufacturers to suppliers, the bullwhip effect occurs. It results in different stages optimizing local objectives instead of total supply chain profits. The bullwhip effect results in costs in the supply chain and decrease in levels of customer service.