Introduction
The optimization of the links between production and distribution processes is the most critical regarding the possibility of improving a particular enterprise’s supply chain for the purpose of its sustainable development.
Sustainability Measures to Transform Supply Chain Processes and Operations
Logistics Approach
Managing the supply chain of enterprise’s resources on the basis of a logistics approach contributes to the optimal organization of economic flows.
- The logistics approach combines the advanced organizational principles and capabilities of modern information technologies. The practice of implementing supply chain management allows saying that this concept is the fundamental one in modern logistics and will rapidly develop in the future.
- Logistics as a science is of special importance to the study of flow processes and the effective organization of management of these processes is acquired with reference to the supply of material resources of a certain venture (Christopher, 2016). Also, Mangan, Lalwani, and Lalwani (2016) claim that a proper approach not only allows organizing the entire algorithm of work qualitatively but also helps to distribute particular products in terms of volume and quality, taking into account the state of specific goods.
Staff Training
The creation of the company personnel’s knowledge base is one of the decisive conditions for the successful application of modern supply chain sustainability concepts.
- The qualification and professionalism of employees are key criteria that predetermine the intensity of work in a certain direction and the effectiveness of taken measures. The sources of valuable knowledge can be both theoretical educational resources and practical exercises for honing specific skills.
- According to Grant, Wong, and Trautrims (2017), the creation of an educational base in the field of logistics is one of the basic sources helping to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. The current economic situation dictates the conditions in which integrated logistics and supply chain management should turn into a strategic resource that requires a high level of diverse and in-depth employees’ knowledge. Therefore, training and retraining programs for company personnel, in particular, in the field of logistics, should be built up but not close (Brandenburg, Govindan, Sarkis, & Seuring, 2014).
Modern Technologies
The involvement of modern means of planning transportation and supply chain organization is an indicator of a strategically correct approach to solving the problem of enterprise sustainability in a competitive market.
- The development of technologies in the field of logistics makes it possible to intelligently think through the entire path of goods, starting from sending and ending with their receipt by the customer (Wang, Gunasekaran, Ngai, & Papadopoulos, 2016). To ensure that some goods are not lost during the delivery process or are not delayed because of certain conventions, modern planning tools are used. Navigation devices of the new generation help to accurately track goods and control the entire delivery route.
- According to Touboulic and Walker (2015), interested parties resort to various ways to improve the supply chain, including the use of modern navigation devices. Appropriate gadgets help to reduce the time for delivery. Customers have a guarantee for the timely delivery of their orders.
Conclusion
Thus, the optimization of the links between production and distribution processes is essential concerning the possibility of improving a particular enterprise’s supply chain for the purpose of its sustainable development. Specific measures should be taken to ensure a reliable system of goods delivery – a logistics approach, staff training, and the implementation of modern technologies. The use of all these conditions in work can guarantee the reliability of supplies and determine a particular enterprise as a modern and competitive venture.
References
Brandenburg, M., Govindan, K., Sarkis, J., & Seuring, S. (2014). Quantitative models for sustainable supply chain management: Developments and directions. European Journal of Operational Research, 233(2), 299-312.
Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics & supply chain management (5th ed.). London, UK: Pearson.
Grant, D. B., Wong, C. Y., & Trautrims, A. (2017). Sustainable logistics and supply chain management: Principles and practices for sustainable operations and management (2nd ed.). London, UK: Kogan Page.
Mangan, J., Lalwani, C., & Lalwani, C. L. (2016). Global logistics and supply chain management (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Touboulic, A., & Walker, H. (2015). Theories in sustainable supply chain management: A structured literature review. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 45(1/2), 16-42.
Wang, G., Gunasekaran, A., Ngai, E. W., & Papadopoulos, T. (2016). Big data analytics in logistics and supply chain management: Certain investigations for research and applications. International Journal of Production Economics, 176, 98-110.