Evaluation models of the supply chain performance

Companies define their new internal or external organizations using organizational models derived either from managers' experience (empirical models), or from concepts and approaches already defined (reference models). Reference models are analysis tools, or process creation tools, which suggest "best practices" to managers, the distinctive feature of which is that they differ according to each company's management style.

Supply chain management "best practices" aim to improve :

• Collaboration between each company, notably through :

  • implementation of common management tools (shared procurement management, collaborative forecast management, etc.),

  • the use of new inter-company information technologies (electronic data interchange via Internet, radio frequency, etc.),

  • experience sharing in design, industrialization, etc;

• the performance of the company and, more globally, of the network of companies that make up the value chain.

The notion of performance is based on systemic modeling, and supply chain management is part of a system approach in which each sub-element of the system contributes to overall optimization. Performance is part of a broad vision associated with the notion of creating value for the company and its stakeholders (shareholders, customers, etc.).