downstream and upstream
Upstream and downstream refers to the supply chain of an industry. For example, if you're looking at a distribution plant then the manufacture would be downstream and the retailer would be upstream. Events or processes that happen before whatever is being looked at is downstream and whatever happens after is upstream.
This generally refers to the management of upstream and downstream activities of an organization in an international arena.
Supply chains are the suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and transportation modes that move products and services from the source of components and raw materials to the customer. Product flowing from the source toward the customer is flowing downstream. Activities that are performed previous to a specific point on the supply chain are upstream activities. (source: http://www.ehow.com/info_8745500_upstream-downstream-supply-chain-activity.html)
Downstream.
refers to vertical integration, that is, a company takes over certain stages upstream (Backward) or downstream(Forward) from its position in the supply chain. A steel manufacturing company that wants to integrate backwards would therefore buy the ore mine. refers to vertical integration, that is, a company takes over certain stages upstream (Backward) or downstream(Forward) from its position in the supply chain. A steel manufacturing company that wants to integrate backwards would therefore buy the ore mine.
Supply chain mapping is the method to capture existing business process and performance across various organization from upstream raw material producers to downstream retailing companies. Visualization of business process is the key to determine how to improve operations and how to increase coordination among different parties in the same supply chain. The result of good supply chain mapping can be reduction of lead-time or delivery time or cost reduction.
the downstream portion of the supply chain
Note: "integration" and "merger" are the same Benefits of Vertical integrationVertical integration potentially offers the following advantages:Reduce transportation costs if common ownership results in closer geographic proximity.Improve supply chain coordination.Provide more opportunities to differentiate by means of increased control over inputs.Capture upstream or downstream profit margins.Increase entry barriers to potential competitors, for example, if the firm can gain sole access to a scarce resource.Gain access to downstream distribution channels that otherwise would be inaccessible.Facilitate investment in highly specialized assets in which upstream or downstream players may be reluctant to invest.Lead to expansion of core competencies.Drawbacks of Vertical integrationWhile some of the benefits of vertical integration can be quite attractive to the firm, the drawbacks may negate any potential gains. Vertical integration potentially has the following disadvantages:Capacity balancing issues. For example, the firm may need to build excess upstream capacity to ensure that its downstream operations have sufficient supply under all demand conditions.Potentially higher costs due to low efficiencies resulting from lack of supplier competition.Decreased flexibility due to previous upstream or downstream investments. (Note however, that flexibility to coordinate vertically-related activities may increase.)Decreased ability to increase product variety if significant in-house development is required.Developing new core competencies may compromise existing competencies.Increased bureaucratic costs.
Green Supply Chain Supply chain management with an emphasis on energy efficiency and environmental friendliness.
logistics is a part of supply Chain Management
Objective of a Supply Chain • Maximize overall value created • Supply chain value: difference between what the final product is worth to the customer and the effort the supply chain expends in filling the customer's request • Value is correlated to supply chain profitability (difference between revenue generated from the customer and the overall cost across the supply chain) • Sources of supply chain revenue: the customer • Sources of supply chain cost: flows of information, products, or funds between stages of the supply chain • Supply chain management is the management of flows between and among supply chain stages to maximize total supply chain profitability
One can optimize supply chain visibility by using a Sterling Supply Chain Visibility from IBM. This type of supply chain will help to optimize it quite nicely.