• Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Supplier Directory
  • SCB YouTube
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Logout
  • My Profile
  • LOGISTICS
    • Air Cargo
    • All Logistics
    • Express/Small Shipments
    • Facility Location Planning
    • Freight Forwarding/Customs Brokerage
    • Global Gateways
    • Global Logistics
    • Last Mile Delivery
    • Logistics Outsourcing
    • LTL/Truckload Services
    • Ocean Transportation
    • Rail & Intermodal
    • Reverse Logistics
    • Service Parts Management
    • Transportation & Distribution
  • TECHNOLOGY
    • All Technology
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud & On-Demand Systems
    • Data Management (Big Data/IoT/Blockchain)
    • ERP & Enterprise Systems
    • Forecasting & Demand Planning
    • Global Trade Management
    • Inventory Planning/ Optimization
    • Product Lifecycle Management
    • Sales & Operations Planning
    • SC Finance & Revenue Management
    • SC Planning & Optimization
    • Sourcing/Procurement/SRM
    • Supply Chain Visibility
    • Transportation Management
  • GENERAL SCM
    • Business Strategy Alignment
    • Education & Professional Development
    • Global Supply Chain Management
    • Global Trade & Economics
    • HR & Labor Management
    • Quality & Metrics
    • Regulation & Compliance
    • SC Security & Risk Mgmt
    • Supply Chains in Crisis
    • Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility
  • WAREHOUSING
    • All Warehouse Services
    • Conveyors & Sortation
    • Lift Trucks & AGVs
    • Order Fulfillment
    • Packaging
    • RFID, Barcode, Mobility & Voice
    • Robotics
    • Warehouse Management Systems
  • INDUSTRIES
    • Aerospace & Defense
    • Apparel
    • Automotive
    • Chemicals & Energy
    • Consumer Packaged Goods
    • E-Commerce/Omni-Channel
    • Food & Beverage
    • Healthcare
    • High-Tech/Electronics
    • Industrial Manufacturing
    • Pharmaceutical/Biotech
    • Retail
  • THINK TANK
  • WEBINARS
    • On-Demand Webinars
    • Upcoming Webinars
    • Webinar Library
  • PODCASTS
  • VIDEOS
  • WHITEPAPERS
Home » The Critical Challenges of High-Tech Supply Chains

The Critical Challenges of High-Tech Supply Chains

April 19, 2013
SupplyChainBrain

As if general supply-chain management weren't complex enough, high-tech companies face additional challenges in managing all of the elements involved in getting product to market, says Santia. The major functions that make up traditional supply chains include sourcing, inventory management, supply-and-demand forecasting and logistics. On top of that, the high-tech market contains a number of sub-verticals, consisting in part of hardware manufacturers and software vendors, all with differing needs and challenges. The software side typically doesn't face manufacturing issues such as cycle time and production cost-control, but still must cope with issues related to returns, warranty management and customer feedback. Providers of internet services, as well as electronic-commerce retailers, have their own unique revenue model, skewed toward brand management and customer loyalty.

Complicating matters for everyone, notes Santia, is the continuing trend toward outsourcing, a practice that has long been common to high-tech manufacturers and service providers, and which shows no sign of abating.

The globalization of supply chains means that companies can't solve problems without ranging across multiple organizational "silos." For example, the failure to receive parts on time from a supplier could be the result of a failure on the financial side, an area for which the supply-chain manager isn't responsible. The solution might come down to something as simple as paying suppliers on time, but it can't be addressed without the cooperation of multiple disciplines within the company.

Disconnections might also exist between regions, especially if one is outperforming another. Santia says companies must strive to unite these disparate elements, through centralization, consolidation and standardization. Only then can a company determine exactly what it's spending, and how it can address the problems that inevitably crop up in a global supply chain.

"Change management," says Santia, "is probably the biggest barrier we see."

To view video in its entirety, click here


Keywords: supply chain, supply chain management, high-tech supply chain, supply management, supply chain planning, supply chain risk management, supply chain management: High-Tech/Electronics

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED VIDEOS

Logistics Global Logistics Reverse Logistics Sales & Operations Planning Global Trade Management Supply Chain Finance & Revenue Management Supply Chain Planning & Optimization Supply Chain Visibility Business Strategy Alignment Global Supply Chain Management High-Tech/Electronics
KEYWORDS Business Strategy Alignment Global Logistics Global Supply Chain Management Global Trade Management high-tech supply chain High-Tech/Electronics Logistics Reverse Logistics Sales & Operations Planning SC Finance & Revenue Management SC Planning & Optimization supply chain Supply Chain Analysis & Consulting Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Management: High-Tech/Electronics Supply Chain Planning Supply Chain Risk Management Supply Chain Visibility supply management
  • Related Articles

    The Critical Challenges of High-Tech Supply Chains

    Challenges and Opportunities for Greener Supply Chain Management in High-Tech

    New Survey Finds High-Tech Supply Chains Growing in Complexity-and Visibility Suffering

SupplyChainBrain

Slowdown in Warehouse Construction Could Extend Shortfall of Space, Experts Say

More from this author

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter!

Timely, incisive articles delivered directly to your inbox.

Popular Stories

  • DOCUMENTS BEARING THE INSIGNIA OF US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION LIE ON A TABLE

    New CBP Regs Call for Greater Diligence by Brokers in Reporting Security Breaches

    Freight Forwarding/Customs Brokerage
  • A WORKER IN A WAREHOUSE, SUPERIMPOSED WITH GRAPHICS SHOWING SUPPLY NETWORK

    Enabling Intelligent Visibility With Supply Chain Analytics

    Data Management (Big Data/IoT/Blockchain)
  • A HAND TURNS A LARGE, LIGHTED DIAL WITH THE WORD RISK ON IT iStock-NicoElNino-1364371014.jpg

    Measuring KPIs and KRIs for Comprehensive Supplier Performance Management

    Technology
  • GSCMS-Promo.png

    Watch: Introducing the Global Supply Chain Marketing Summit

    Education & Professional Development
  • DEEPLY CRACKED EARTH UNDER A BLUE CLOUDY SKY

    Why Maritime Supply Chains Must Adapt to Sustainability Regulations

    Ocean Transportation

Digital Edition

Scb nov 2022 sm

2022 Supply Chain Innovator of the Year

VIEW THE LATEST ISSUE

Case Studies

  • New Revenue for Cloud-Based TMS that Embeds Orderful’s Modern EDI Platform

  • Convenience Store Client Maximizes Profit and Improves Customer Service

  • A Digitally Native Footwear Brand Finds Rapid Fulfillment

  • Expanding Apparel Brand Scales Seamlessly with E-Commerce Technology

  • How a Global LSP Scaled its Security Program and Won More Business

Visit Our Sponsors

Orderful Yang Ming Alithya
Barcoding Blue Yonder BNSF Logistics
CoEnterprise Data Capture Deposco
E2open GAINSystems Generix
Geodis GEP GreyOrange
Here Honeywell Intelligrated IFM
Infor Inmar Keelvar
Kinaxis Korber Lean Solutions Group 2H
Liberty SBF Locus Robotics Logility
LogistiVIEW Lucas Systems MCA Connect
MPO Nvidia Old Dominion
OpenText ORTEC Overhaul
Parsyl PMMI QIMA
Redwood Logistics Ryder E-commerce by Whiplash Saddle Creek Logistics
Schneider Dedicated Setlog Holding AG Ship4WD
Shipwell Tecsys TGW Systems
Thomson Reuters Tive Trailer Bridge
Vecna Robotics Verity
Verusen
  • More From SCB
    • Featured Content
    • Video Library
    • Think Tank Blog
    • SupplyChainBrain Podcast
    • Whitepapers
    • On-Demand Webinars
    • Upcoming Webinars
  • Digital Offerings
    • Digital Issue
    • Subscribe
    • Manage Your Subscription
    • Newsletters
  • Resources
    • Events Calendar
    • SCB's Great Supply Chain Partners
    • Supplier Directory
    • Case Study Showcase
    • Supply Chain Innovation Awards
    • 100 Great Partners Form
  • SCB Corporate
    • Advertise on SCB.COM
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Data Sharing Opt-Out

All content copyright ©2023 Keller International Publishing Corp All rights reserved. No reproduction, transmission or display is permitted without the written permissions of Keller International Publishing Corp

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing