In: Operations Management
There are four main elements of supply chain namely integration, supply chain operations, purchasing and distribution
Integration is at the heart of the supply chain comprising of the heart and brain of it. Here there is a lot of coordination that happens with the rest of the supply chain to produce effective and timely results. Here the people in charge of integration are responsible for making sure that things are happening on time, cost and delivery constraints with utmost importance to quality. In short the people responsible for integration manage the supply chain.
Operations also play an important role keeping an eye on the company's output and hence the inventory. Business forecasting to predict and manage supplies by coordination with purchase team is a key activity performed by them.
Purchasing sources all materials through negotiations and building relationships with supplliers. They have to all the time keep an eye on the budget for purchase.
And finally distribution coordinates the entire logistics from packing department to dispatch to wholesaler and retailers through transporters.