Achieving the Perfect Order

By Inovis
Paper examines the issues of supply chain communication with an emphasis on a common paradigm, "the perfect order." The perfect order is not something tangible. It is an archetype of flawless, optimally efficient, end-to-end interactions among supply chain partners. Those interactions are iterative and two-way: Buyers place orders with suppliers; suppliers send goods, bills-of-lading and invoices to customers; and buyers send back payments. A flaw at any stage results in imperfect order completion. A delay may result in a stock-out for the business and an interruption of cash flow for the supplier. As in any endeavor, perfection is an objective that can rarely be realized, but defining the model of the perfect order allows us to identify its parameters and challenges and to work toward coming as close as possible to attaining the ultimate goal.