How are firms approaching these integration processes? Stevens (1989) suggests that firms first integrate internally (coordinating Supply, Production and Distribution) and then, extend the integration to its supply chain members. We can find companies in different stages of this integration process: Some companies may have not initiated the integration process yet, others may have achieved internal integration by coordinating their logistics function with other functional areas; and, finally, there might be others that have extended the integration process to their supply chain members.