Supply Chains in India: Can We Organise Them Better?

Abstract

Worldwide, interest in supply chain management has increased steadily since the 1980s when companies began to see the benefits of collaborative relationships. The supply chain concept is still nascent in India. However the need for the same, at this stage, is more than ever before because of the challenges unleashed on the competitiveness of the Indian industry by deregulation and globalisation. An essential first step in the process is to assess the current supply chain capability. The article is based on a recently concluded extensive research carried out jointly by Management Development Institute, Gurgaon and KPMG India, the first of its kind in the country, to gauge the current state of supply chain management in the Indian industry. The research concludes that a beginning has been made and large number of Indian organisations today are realising the importance of developing and implementing a comprehensive supply chain strategy - and then linking that strategy to deliver bottom-line results.