supply chain system
supply chain system
A computer system (essentially the software) that is used to reduce inventory and lower costs of assembly and distribution in the supply chain. Traditional supply chain systems supported only two organizations; for example, between the wholesaler and the retailer. Today, more sophisticated systems integrate three or more organizations, so that for example, a retailer can signal a reorder to its wholesaler and to its wholesaler's supplier at the same time.In the business world, supply chain management and supply chain systems became the buzzwords of the late 1990s. A whole raft of software came to market, offering enhanced analysis and scheduling algorithms that refined the process. See supply chain management.