The term “Supply Chain” is defined by Mentzer
et al. (2001) as a set of three or more entities
(organizations or individuals) directly involved
in the upstream and downstream flows of
products, services, finances, and/or information
from a source to a customer. Several independent
firms are involved in manufacturing a product
and placing it in the hands of the end user in a
supply chain. Raw material and component
producers, product assemblers, wholesalers,
retailer merchants and transportation companies
are all members of a supply chain. Thus, a
supply chain is characterized by the flow of
materials and information both within and
between business entities including suppliers,
manufacturers and customers.