An Insight to Supply Chain & Models

A basic supply chain is the flow of raw materials and services from receiving the raw materials to the manufacturing &processing of the same till the final products are obtained.Thisprocess involves the movement of raw material,work in progress inventory and finished products. A simple supply chain concept would be- The raw material is taken to the factory where it is stored in the warehouse, sent for manufacturing, again stored in the warehouse, transported to the distributors and the movement of these products continue till they reach the end user/customers.

Importance of Supply Chain:

Supply chain not only plays an important role in organizational activities, but also plays a vital role in delivering the goods to the end user through multiple points of processing. It helps the organization to cut inventory costs, provides multiple sources of information through various channel partners and helps in giving an effective and efficient customer service which results in customer satisfaction. The degree of customer satisfaction helps in measuring the success of any supply chain qualitatively

Different types of supply chain models:

1. Build to order model

2. Continuous replenishment model

3. Integrated make-to stock model

4. Channel assembly model

    1. Build to order model:

Buildto order model aka (BTO), which is user specific, which means customer gives his customized requirement for the product and the company immediately starts assembly for producing the goods. But the company needs to be accurate on design and quality of product. The advantage of this is the consumer gets the rapid delivery of the product with the good feeling of possessing the customized product & it is also efficient for the company too as they are producing the goods only when required by the consumer.

    2. Continuous replenishment model:

According to this model there is a continuous delivery of the raw material from the supplier so as to occupy the space of those ones which has been used, but for this a close watch on the quantity is needed so as not to increase the cost sharply which could result in the collapse of the supply chain.

    3. Integrated make-to stock model:

This type of model focuses on, to stock the products which are in trend or are in demand from the customers, so as not to run out of stock of those products or goods. For this it needs a good forecast so that it can meet the exact balance between the production and consumption.The disadvantage of this model is that it is depended heavily on the accuracy of forecast.

    4. Channel assembly model:

In the channel assembly model all the components of products are gathered and assembledas it moves through the production line. This is achieved through the collaboration of all the outsourced suppliers and involves the transportation of the products. An example for this can bethe assembling different computer parts to construct the computer.

Thus we can say supply chain is a vast field and has different models which can be adopted by the companies according to their need, so that it allows them to be more efficient in terms of its production, cost and quality.

About Author:

Rohan Bhardwaj is a consultant in Systems Plus Pvt. Ltd. Within Systems Plus, he actively contributes to the areas of Technology and Information Security. He can be contacted at: rohan.bhardwaj@spluspl.com                         

Being a BA is not for the Faint Hearted

A Business Analyst (BA) is a person who analyzes an existing or ideal organization and design of systems, which includes businesses, departments, and organization. The BA then recommends changes to add maximum value to the business.

Business Analysts are in great demand due to an increase in the complexity of requirements needed in business systems and projects. The complexity is increasingly driven by the trends in technology like big data, mobile computing and security which brings the role of the BA in the front row. To survive in this ever increasing demand from the customers, a BA has to deal with all the following aspects:-

Getting Stakeholders To Make Time

It can be a challenging task to get the stakeholders to make time, if they lack interest in a project. When Stakeholders are not committed to the project, it takes extra time and effort for the BA to their work done. An effective approach to overcome this is to ensure that managers are copied in all communications all the way through. When functional managers are involved, even if it is to a small extent, team members are keener to fall in line.

Lack of Clarity

Achieving clarity of scope is one of the most difficult aspects of any project. Clearing up any confusion surrounding the scope of the project is one of the main responsibilities of a BA. Unless objectives and scope are fully defined and agreed upon, there would be no success. This is the reason why defining scope and objectives is such an important part. A BA can’t confidently flag off a project without signoff on these.

Inadequate Time Allotted For BA Work

Wouldn’t it be great if you got a new project and were told that it could be completed whenever it suited you? However in the real world, time allocated to your project will be limited. A major hindrance to delivering high-quality deliverables is lack of adequate time to complete Business Analysis tasks. Time constraints is one of the main reasons which can lead to incomplete specification documents which eventually lead to implementation of requirements that do not solve the business problem. As a precautionary measure, it is always better to plan well and start early. A strategic plan with all activities mapped out, sufficient resources and some extra buffer time built in can help you stay ahead.

Conflict among Stakeholders

At times, stakeholders may not be amiable and find it difficult to work well together. One thing that can be particularly difficult to control in any project is how stakeholders comprehend one another. In such scenarios, it is important to help stakeholders separate work issues from business issues and handle stakeholder interactions proactively. It becomes even more essential for the BA to reinforce the importance of working together as a team towards a common goal and facilitate it. Instances where stakeholder requirements conflict, it is up to the BA to managing stakeholders in arriving at a common ground. BAs must understand how to manage conflicting requirements and reduce conflict during stakeholder interactions.

Documentation and Specification Skills

Documentation is a key aspect in a BA’s profile. Documents should be crystal clear and concise (the latter becoming increasingly necessary in a lean or agile world) capturing all the important as well as the less important aspects of the project. A BA should not compromise in capturing and registering information as and when required. While documentation or writing could be considered a subset of written communication, it’s really its own skill set for a BA. As a new business analyst, you may not have experience in a variety of business analyst specifications (that comes with time and a variety of project experiences) but it’s quite possible that your strong general documentation and writing skills will get you started.

Job of a Business Analysis is not a cake walk until and unless the Business Analyst develops all the skills to handle tackle situations that might arise during the project development life cycle. Although the profile is convincingly rewarding, but to attain expertise in this job one has to be strong in analysis, clear in words and must have a lot of patience to deal with pressure situations.

About Author:

Sachin Poojary is a consultant in Systems Plus Pvt. Ltd. Within Systems Plus, he actively contributes to the areas of Technology and Information Security. He can be contacted at: sachin.poojary@spluspl.com