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How to define the Supply Chain?

Supply Chain,
a common definition across the globe

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The Supply Chain's mission is to manage end-to-end flows, product flows, information flows, physical infrastructures and human organizations, from suppliers to the final customer. 

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Yann de Feraudy,
President of the association

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It covers a wide range of activities, which account for ~ 60% to 80% of product costs.

In the course of our history, our members first evolved in logistics services to extend to all those of the Supply Chain. In 1982, this English term appeared to the greatest number of people thanks to a paper in the Financial Times. From then on, many people will look for a French translation of the term Supply Chain. However, this would be to reduce it to its sole dimension of supply. The definition of Supply Chain is more global, transversal and therefore extremely strategic .

Who are we?

What is the difference between logistics and supply chain?

There is no difference between logistics and supply chain, but rather an interweaving of the supply chain within the latter. Distribution logistics is the tip of the iceberg with its logistics platforms, warehouses and transport. Internal and external flowsgo beyond the management of raw materials and finished products to include: work-in-progress, consumables, production operators, data management, etc. With such a wide range of activities, Supply Chain Management must answer key questions for the competitiveness of companies.

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What service offer to provide to customers?
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Where to produce and where to source? What to outsource?
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How to organize the distribution network and transportation?
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How to forecast demand?
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What production capacity is needed to meet this demand?
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What are the inventory levels at each point in the network?
THE ASSOCIATION'S WORKING GROUPS
share numerous tools, recommendations and studies to help all professionals in the sector to solve these problems.
Discover our labs

Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Management is about steering, organizing, coordinating flows and people or optimizing processes: many professions at the heart of the company's business.

Their ambition is not only to reduce costs, but to arbitrate between largely conflicting objectives.

supplychain
THE SUPPLY CHAIN HAS A ROLE TO PLAY

in transforming societies and building a desirable future.

1.9 million

of employees, which represents 10% of employment in the market sector*.

373.3 billion

tonne-kilometres of goods transported*(in tonnes)

81.2 million

ofm2 of warehouses of more than 5000m2*

10%

of French GDP*

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35 000

positions to be filled each year
for the next 5 years of which :

25 000

in operational positions (drivers, warehouse staff, etc.)

10 000

in management positions

Curious to find out how to train for a career in the supply chain?

Browse our digital guide
  1. except for the interim. Source: DATALAB 2018
  2. Source: Pôle Emploi report "Transport and logistics professions".
  3. Statistics.developpement-durable.gouv.fr - 2019
  4. Key transport figures - 2021