Global Supply Chain

Companies that successfully internationalize their businesses are more productive, more profitable and stay in business longer than businesses that do not, and successful internationalization depends on the implementation of effective and efficient international and global supply chains.

While great benefits in cost, innovation and speed can be obtained through the development of global supply chains there are also considerable risks that need to be considered carefully. These risks are associated with the quality of infrastructure, access to skills, exchange rate uncertainty, natural disasters, terrorism, and many other factors that add complexity to the mix.

Additionally, the economic, legal and fiscal frameworks in other jurisdictions, and the ease or difficulty of doing business and integrating material and information flows into global supply chains and networks vary greatly from place to place. You really do need to do your homework to understand the world that you are venturing into.

As a business owner or manager, the choices you make as you internationalize your business and as you decide where and with whom you form working partnerships, locate overseas resellers, distribution centres, production plants, corporate headquarters and research and development facilities will have a major impact on the sustainability and continuity of your business in the face of an ever-changing global environment.

Supply Chain Consulting

There are many ways to implement global supply chain solutions. There is no one size, fits all, cookie-cutter solution. Therefore, it is critically important that you choose judiciously and implement solutions that are appropriate to the stage of development of your business.

It is fundamentally important to get clear on the “Why?” and the “What?” you need to achieve BEFORE diving into the “How?”. This involves taking a very strategic view of your business strengths and value proposition and matching these to those markets that will provide the greatest potential. Then you will need to determine what the requirements are for success in these markets in terms of product, service, quality, compliance and price in the short, medium and long term.

These are among the most important decisions that you will ever make in your business career and they warrant due consideration and investment of time, effort and financial resources. Once you are clear on the strategic business goal then it will be time to determine the ways and the means to deliver the results, including aspects such as:

• Supplier selection and development
• Leveraging the capabilities of transport and logistics service providers
• Developing channel partners to access and develop overseas markets
• Setting up operations in overseas locations
• Continuous innovation and reconfiguration of supply chains in the face of changing conditions and competition

Whether you are managing an ambitious SME just embarking upon the journey to internationalize your supply chain, or whether you run a more experienced business looking to take the good work that you have already done on this front to the next level, or indeed if you are responsible for a larger organisation looking to optimise your global supply chain operations I would be delighted to talk to you about how we can help you to develop the right strategies, and guide you through implementation to achieve your business goals.

Call or email me directly +353 86 811 6030, pdaly@albalogistics.com