Integrated Process
According to the Global Supply Chain Forum, supply chain management is defined as the integration of key business processes from end user through original suppliers that provides products, services, and information that add value for customers and other stakeholders (Croxton, Garcia-Dastugue, & Lambert, 2001). This definition identifies eight key processes as the core of supply chain management. The eight processes include: (1) customer relationship management, (2) customer service management, (3) demand management, (4) order fulfillment management, (5) manufacturing flow management, (6) supplier relationship management, (7) product development and commercialization, and (8) returns management. These processes transcend the length of the supply chain cutting through firms and functional silos alike. These processes also provide a framework for various aspects of strategic and tactical issues present in the supply chain processes. The integration of such processes would allow successful management of the supply chain for the suppliers as well.