Supply Chain Steps

A typical supply chain consists of suppliers of either raw material suppliers or manufacturers, transporters (trucking or rail) to an origin seaport if maritime transportation is required followed by a destination port, transportation and eventually to a customer (be it business or an individual). Technology has played a role across each of the paths in the value chain, where the key has been to achieve both speed and efficiency.

Starting from the supplier, which could be a factory, their access to raw materials and thereafter production quality determines who they serve. At the port, the size of the port and efficiency of the operations at the port determines how much handling can be done. The size and speed of maritime transport also determine how quickly it is received at the destination port.