Supply Chain Methodology

ESPRIT II CIM for multi supplier operations (CMSO) identi­ fied the need for companies to manage beyond their own boundary and beyond their immediate supplier and customer relationships. The importance of satisfying end customers needs was highlighted. No methods or approaches to help companies manage their chains were found, so a supply chain methodology was designed and developed . Its applica­ tion in the automotive aftermarket in the UK and Spain high­ lighted reasons, previously not observed, for ineffectiveness and inefficiency of the supply chains studied. The results of the work are a guidebook, detailing the methodology, a case study book describing its application in detail, and a shell of a decision support system to support the future use of the methodology.