Ross Ayers

Reflection

12/1/2019

There were many important and interesting items which I felt are crucial to a successful
career in Procurement and Supply Chain Management. Chapter 16 was especially insightful
when describing the importance of inventory to supply management and how little it had been
paid attention until recent years. As a manager previously, I also did not usually consider this
asset to be something other than a necessity or a burden that could not be avoided. However, that
chapter explained that in certain cases this is true but with current logistical options and such a
variety of supplier options too, there is no reason that current inventory issues should not be
analyzed and optimized.

I was most invested in the final chapter, however, as well as Chapter 10, both of which go
hand in hand for me. For Chapter 10, the discussion of multiple and unusual supplier options got
me thinking that with proper research, there are probably infinite supply options across the board
for a vast majority of firms. With so many options, it is also a double-edged sword in that
without doing your homework, you may be in for lengthy and costly supplier negotiations or
stuck in destructive contracts with predatory suppliers. The options for off-shoring are also both
compelling and frightening if not properly researched. These costs can either make or break a
business and it is up to the Purchasing departments of these firms to make the best informed
decisions and I was actually surprised to learn how recently such things have become more
important.

Of course, the selection of suppliers also goes with the final chapter. In 17, we learned
about the specifics of logistics and how the plethora of current options for transportation can be
both daunting and comforting. To properly exploit your supply chain, you need to find a
logistical service provider which can keep up with your demands and meet or exceed your
expectations. While there are many options available, they might also not have exactly what you
need or have advertised that they can accomplish much but complete little. It comes again to the
purchasing team to determine whether a supplier or logistics provider are the correct fit.

I was able to glean many essential items from this course regarding supply management
and I found myself learning more about what I have experienced in ways which I thought I had
surpassed. I thought I knew what inventory was and how best to manage it in any scenario, but
now I know that it is something that needs to be examined in individual cases and constantly
checked up on for inconsistencies and new opportunities. But I also learned that the constancy of
lean integration and its focus on always improving are applicable to all business settings.