Chain Supply Management

Instructor

Chain Supply Management

My understanding of quality assurance has greatly changed after taking this course. I previously did not factor in all the dynamics of a business that goes into providing quality for customers. During the course, however, I now know that quality provided in a chain supply system starts right from the initial production stages. A business has to have proper procurement channels to ensure that good profits are realized the right way. I previously did not put much thought into how attendants can be trained. I now understand that attendants in businesses have to undergo customer service training. Customer service training starts from the management understanding their target markets. The management in a chain supply system will then hire and train employees with consideration to the target market. There are many factors to consider in handling chain supplies, quality being a very important one. I previously did not understand how far quality services and products have to start being modelled before they get to the client. 

Quality assurance is a process that engages all the stakeholders in the production and consumption of a product or service. For instance; it is not simple to make a designer change their designs by simply stopping the consumption of the product as I previously thought. I now understand that for a product to be improved or changed, the consumer and the producer have to have a communication channel. This channel is often the distributor or retailer or both. Previously, I did not pay much attention to the packaging of products beyond how good they looked but now I understand that a lot of effort is put into producing quality. Good quality packaging is a way for the company to market itself. This means that for a company to stay in the market, beyond producing good quality products, the presentation is also important. The same way, a company with good products must have well trained personnel for the whole venture to be a success. I previously thought quality should be able to sell itself regardless of the quality of customer service by the company.

A successful chain supply system requires high quality products changing hands. For instance; a chain supply involving shoes and clothes has to have well fitted and finished clothes and shoes for the business to be successful. Previously I thought quality assurance was only a concern for the production team. I now understand that even the purchaser has to ensure that they get good quality products for their clients. It also follows that beyond well trained personnel, good quality products are mandatory for the success of a business.

In the delivery of goods and services, a company has to device a faster and more efficient program or system that will fulfil its needs. I now understand that businesses have to innovate systems for their operations most of the time. The case of Nordstrom is a unique but a good example of a business that has goals and invests in achieving the goals. I have also known that a business has to apply strategic planning to device methods of achieving their goals effectively. A quality assurance system in a business is all about good economies of scale. Reducing costs while increasing returns and improving their production methods and quality of service. 

It is clearer to me that running a chain supply system effectively engages all the individuals in the chain from the producer, distributor to the retailer at the end of the chain. This means that the retailer selects a preferred supplier and develops a business relationship that is a win-win for both parties. I also know that businesses also face uncertain market patterns which make it necessary for them to develop contingency plans to cushion them in case the unexpected happens. For instance, a retailer can take a big stock of products and most of them turn out faulty. A good business entity will have devices a plan to handle such occurrences. This is also part of quality assurance as I have come to understand.

In this course I have learnt a lot about management and control. The management of a business has a very wide scope. Being a manager in chain supply business requires a very keen eye. The management role requires the individual to take into consideration the quality of the products being supplied. It is also supposed to incorporate knowledge for most of the production processes. Management as I now understand it in chain supply, is about the understanding of the business from inception to the final product. A manager needs to be a good leader in order to achieve the goals of the business. I have learned that a good leader has qualities that a manager must have whether learned or acquired. For starters, a good manager has to have attributes like accountability, knowledgeable and have emotional intelligence among other traits. A good manager is more likely to encourage the other employees as they work. I also understand that good managers are patient with their employees where need be and firm as opposed to harsh and unreasonable. 

A manager with emotional intelligence is equipped to know how to handle different employees according to their personalities. I understand that the attitude a manager towards the business spills over to the junior employees. A good manager brings all the employees close so that they can effectively achieve the company’s goals. A good manager will also constantly encourage the other junior employees to perform better in their work. Good managerial skills are applicable in all situations in a business institution. Seemingly small issues like being polite and approachable go a long way in encouraging team work in a company. 

Good leadership skills by a manger can be developed through practice. The implementation of the leadership skills in a business can manifest in the way businesses are run. For instance; a manager will take the lead in showing the employees how to serve clients by actually serving a client themselves. A good leader will want to encourage their employees to get better at their jobs by organizing workshops and training sessions with certificates issued at the end. This will be important for an employee because it shows them that the management cares for their careers beyond their service to the company. With training certifications, employees can use the documents to apply for promotions. A manager in this manner will have encouraged an employee to do better and improve their skills by showing that they do not have to be tied to the same spot all their lives.

A good leader is approachable. This can be developed by a manager creating an open door policy to enable the junior employees to communicate freely. It will also ensure that the manager can direct the junior employees without appearing overly controlling. A good leader’s emphasis will not be viewed as being unnecessary because they can always be open to questions from the employees on policies. Being good leaders, the managers will not impose impossible conditions and expect obedience without explaining why certain things have to be done. Good leaders are knowledgeable as the course has helped me understand. They always want the company to perform the best possible way. This is shown by the way they use their position to bring progressive change to the company. Good leaders are always looking for the best way to make the company achieve goals more often by rewarding employees for work well done. Good leaders encourage innovation, efficiency and discipline in the work area as per the ISO 10018 quality management system guidelines. Being a good leader appeals to the fact that an individual in a leadership position has to be what they advocate for like competent, punctual and thorough in their work. Good leaders should be models for their junior employees.

To conclude, this course has changed my perspective of leadership and chain supply management from the assumption that a business is a one-man show, to the knowledge that a business is a team effort. Running successful chain supply systems requires skills and excellent leadership skills as well.