Introduction
A supply chain is the network of businesses, people, activities, and resources used to produce and deliver goods to customers. The success of a product on the market is significantly influenced by its quality (Flynn et al., 2018). I believe that while a supply chain can be modified to some extent to make up for poor product design or poor product quality, it cannot entirely do so. Although a well-planned and effective supply chain can decrease waste and speed up deliveries, it cannot correct the product’s underlying problems.
The Role of Supply Chain in Business: What It Can and Cannot Do
Businesses can redesign their supply chains to address problems caused by poor product design or quality. For instance, a study by the University of Warwick discovered that companies could enhance product design and lower the risk of quality problems by involving suppliers in product development (Flynn et al., 2018). Similarly, businesses can use technology to improve their supply chain and compensate for subpar product quality. For instance, intelligent sensors and blockchain technology can track products through the supply chain, ensuring that quality issues are discovered quickly and enabling quick corrective action.
Although supply chain redesign can tackle issues arising from subpar product design or quality, it might not be able to fix all issues. For instance, no supply chain redesign can compensate for inherent defects in the product or inadequate design (Flynn et al., 2018). In such circumstances, businesses might need to start over and completely redesign the product. Think of the analogy of a dripping faucet to demonstrate this point. The supply chain may only need to be improved by using a different supplier or better logistics, but this may not solve the problem if the faucet is poorly designed and leaks despite repairs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that while a supply chain can be altered to make up for subpar product design or quality, the extent to which this is feasible will vary depending on several variables. Businesses can employ tactics like involving suppliers in product development and utilizing technology to enhance quality control. A supply chain redesign might fall short in the making up for a product’s fundamental flaws or poor design.
Reference
Flynn, B. B., Koufteros, X., & Lu, G. (2018). On theory in supply chain uncertainty and its implications for supply chain integration. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 52(3), 3–27. Web.