Research Paper on:
Supply Chain Management and ERP

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
advantage in terms of cost cutting or creating differentiation. By looking at the concept of the supply chain and the way it can be ultised there is an increasing understanding  of the use of IT in the supply chain and we can consider how this is likely to increase efficiency and lead to competitive advantages. We will first look at  the concept of the supply chain and then apply this briefly to a case study and consider how it can add value. 2. Literature Review In any business the supply chain  is the chain from the production of the raw material through to the end user, for example a supply chain in practice for a supermarket may be buying tomatoes to  sell to its customers may be an upstream chain with the wholesaler first in the line upwards and at the source the farmer and the supermarket the last link in  the chain. Companies will often be a part of many supply chains. As more and more choices and supply chains have been created there has also be a continual  search to find and increase competitive advantages, this has meant examining all aspects of the business so that cost savings can be made (Harrington, 2002).  In managing the supply chain there are many aspects that may be amended or adjusted to create value. The value created is the way in which the  value of the raw materials are increased so that the finished product is worth more than the sum of its parts. This means that the management of the supply chain,  such as using just in time inventory management may add value as it creates lower costs and increases profits. Value may be added at many stages. We can consider