Fundamentals of Business

3.3 An Enterprise and its suppliers

Suppliers - firms that provide an enterprise with input goods and services.
Distribution/Marketing channels - ways and means to reach customers.
Suppliers form an integral part of every enterprise and they can't be looked in isolation but as a part of Supply chain (consumers, distribution channels and suppliers).

Supply Chain Entire network of entities, directly or indirectly interlinked and interdependent in serving the same consumer or customer. It comprises of vendors that supply raw material, producers who convert the material into products, warehouses that store, distribution centres that deliver to the retailers, and retailers who bring the product to the ultimate user.

Contemporary supply chain is about the relationship between and enterprise, its consumers and suppliers.
An enterprise is the link between consumers and suppliers.

The primary objective of supply chain management is to fulfill customer demands through the most efficient use of resources, including distribution capacity, inventory and labour labour.

An enterprise can only succeed to meet consumers demands if it has reliable suppliers. An enterprise must work with suppliers as a single unit that serves the consumer. an enterprise activities will determine the n nature of ature its supply chain.