What is Supply Chain?

wholesaler

A business that does not manufacture its own products, but purchases and resells these products. Such a business usually maintains a finished goods inventory. Synonym: Distributor

distributor

A business that does not manufacture its own products, but purchases and resells these products. Such a business usually maintains a finished goods inventory. Synonym: Wholesaler

retailer

A business that takes title to products and resells them to final consumers

manufacturer

A person or company that makes the goods for sale

customer

A person or organization receiving a good, service, or information

consumer

A person who purchases goods and services for personal use

manufacturing

A series of interrelated activities and operations involving the design, material selection, planning, production, quality assurance, management, and marketing of consumer and durable goods

supplier

Provider of goods or services

transportation

The act of moving materials or products from origin to destination

distribution

The activities associated with the movement of material, usually finished goods or service parts, from the manufacturer to the customer.

distribution channel

The distribution route, from raw materials through consumption, along which products travel.

supply chain

The global network used to deliver products and services from raw materials to customers through an engineered flow of information, physical distribution, and cash. In simpler terms, a supply chain is everything that happens to a product on the journey from concept to consumer

transportation mode

The way an item is transported (i.e., truck, rail, air, water, pipeline).