Prompt #4: Considering Delivery and Style

Adam Seeton

There are many different styles and delivery when it comes to talking business. You will may experience a more casual business or a "strictly business" conversation. When surfing the internet, I came across multiple supply chain management review blogs. In these blogs, they would talk about and react to everyday business decisions that you could possible see in the news. This is very similar to what we are doing with our blog. In the blogs, you will see a lot of language being used that everyone can understand. They want to have a more broad audience than strictly business people and supply chain interested people. They will state what is happening in the supply chain and attempt to explain what it means and how it may affect the supply chain world. After looking at google scholars and finding a lot of articles, I found out that most of the articles posted are for people who have prior knowledge in the supply chain field. They will use more business terms that are hard to understand without having previously learned business and business terms. For beginners in the field I would recommend surfing the internet to learn more about the basics, then begin to look more into scholar articles and journals.

Burnson, Patrick. "Sans Trade With U.S., Supply Chain Questions Remain For Cuba’s Transshipment Hub." Recently Filed RSS. N.p., 11 Apr. 2017. Web. 16 Apr. 2017.

Cooper, Martha C., Douglas M. Lambert, and Janus D. Pagh. "Supply Chain Management: More Than a New Name for Logistics." The International Journal of Logistics Management 8.1 (1997): 1-14. Web.

Learning the Language of Logistics

Justin Braford

There is undoubtedly a specific language within the supply chain field. It is easier now more than ever for supply chain managers to stay in touch with one another.
Nowadays, the movement of goods along the supply chain is less important as the overall fulfillment of the orders, according to Bob Trebilcock and MHI. It's key for businesses to carry out their promises to other businesses, or their retail customers. Distribution warehouses need to be well organized and maintained for the transportation of good to be efficient. The supply chain industry transportation has become extremely urgent. Consumers are demanding their goods to be shipped quicker and quicker with every passing year. This can be justified by same-day shipping and the next day delivering method of transportation. This requires an absolute flawless exchange of goods through the supply chain.
Supply chain managers rely on systematic distribution warehouses. Many companies are constantly trying to change their logistics operations. Papa John's is a perfect example of a company's effective supply chain. Papa John's owns 10 distribution warehouses, that transport goods twice a week, to 3200 stores across the US. They must have perfect data to be able to project how much materials each store needs. There are struggles at every company regarding their supply chain. Constantly, new systems and technologies are being found to advance the transportation of goods.

Trebilcock, Bob. "Learning to Speak the Language of the Supply Chain." Recently Filed RSS. Logistics Management, 27 Oct. 2014. Web. 12 Apr. 2017. <http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/learning_to_speak_the_language_of_the_supply_chain>. 

Prompt #8: Practicing Our Knowledge

Importance of Logistic Data

Justin Braford


Data is very important for many jobs. It is especially important within the supply chain/logistics field. Data is heavily used to understand what is working, what is not working, and what could become more efficient. Businesses use this information to choose which companies they would like to work with. There are many different industries within the supply chain field. It is important to form these connections through business, so the supply chain flow can become more productive.

Adrian Gonzales, President of Adelante SCM, believes companies need to be more open with their data. Many companies still use private data and are not completely open with their trading partners. With business networks increasing exponentially, it is important now more than ever to have consistent data from the carriers, suppliers, and customers. Gonzalez has noted a strong difference within the supply chain field just from 2008-2015. Social networking abilities is essential within the supply chain field. A good reputation is what will keep business coming to you. The supply chain field is rapidly evolving, and data is a sure way to be able to track the progress of interactions betweens companies.

Barman, Jeff. "Strong, Clean Logistics Data Needed Now More than Ever." Pearless Media, Aug. 2015. Web. 9 Apr. 2017. <http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/1710395363?pq-origsite=summon>. 

Prompt #10: Recognizing Truth

Supply Chain Data at Risk in Digital Revolution

Jordan Thimm

Along with all the great advancements in technology and the increasing importance and use of digital avenues in life, what we also get in an increase in digital criminality. Yes even as digital security systems are improving making sites harder and harder to hack, hackers are still working just as hard to hack into those systems. The use of technology is in more every day things than we can think of, and is making huge impacts in business relations and relations in general. Looking at the field of supply chain itself in more detail, we see nothing but an increase in complexity of the field. It has evolved from a slow process to a seemingly interconnected process where everyone and everything is record and counted through various technological parts. It is the exact things that are advancing the industry that are also crippling it by making it available to cyber crime. The use of machine-to-machine connectivitey, remotely guided vehicles and digitally linked smart machines are all ways that the industry is increasing it's productivity and attentiveness, but also being opened up to a whole new world of needed cyber security.

With how connected everything is in the supply chain, it is no wonder that 80% of data breaches can be traced back to the supply chain, but an alarming fact discovered in a 2016 cyber security survey conducted by the UK government showed that only 34% of bug businesses stipulate cyber-security standards for their suppliers. Basically companies just need to make security the norm and always do their best to protect themselves and also be sure you are doing business with companies that are protected just as well. With how big of an area the supply chain cover, pretty much the whole world, it is key to always be aware of potential criminals that are trying to make a quick buck.
http://www.scmr.com/article/the_digital_revolution_is_putting_supply_chain_data_at_risk/blogs

Prompt #1: Asking Questions and Breaking Assumptions

Justin Braford


There are many preconceptions I have about the field of supply chain. I believe the talk between supply chain managers is very professional at first, but once working with each other for awhile you are able to build relationships. I believe the days primarily consist of talking to other supply chain managers from companies making sure the exchange of goods is working efficiently. the entire point of supply chain is to get goods from point A to point B as quickly a possible. I would assume they definitely would dislike when people they are working with are difficult to get ahold of, therefore making business more difficult as well. I feel like the people who thrive in this field are the people who are organized, intellectual, and posses good communication skills. A supply chain manager doesn't have to be a genius, but they do need to have great interpersonal skills. Making sure the transaction is within timely fashion 100% can be incredibly difficult.
After reading an introductory textbook about supply chain management, I have picked up quite a bit of new knowledge. This helped add quite a bit to my previous arsenal of knowledge. This textbook changed my thoughts by showing me how complex the supply chain industry is. There is definitely a reason why it is a fast growing field. Technology is a huge component of the supply chain industry, and is used all the time throughout the entire process. The are multiple stages of supply chain, and each one must be executed efficiently. The goods are bought by consumers, and then transferred from  manufacturers to wholesalers to distributers to consumers. My previous conception about communication is very key within all of these stages. A supply chain managers day is definitely packed with calls, meetings, and checking up on the progress of shipments. This resource gave a large amount of insight to the finer details of the supply chain, that I did not previously know.

Handfield, Robert B., and Ernest L. Nichols. Introduction to Supply Chain Management. Harlow: Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.