A Customer Driven Model for Integrated Supply Chain Management System

An integrated supply chain management (ISCM) system which involves the linking of suppliers and customers with the internal supply processes of an organization is the next level of evolution for the supply chain. Based on the Web technology, ISCM systems deliver the organizations with a competitive advantage by providing opportunities to streamline processes, reduce costs, and increase customer supporting. This paper introduces the concept of a customer-driven model in supply chain systems, discusses various constraints of present-day supply chain, analyzes the limitation of the existing supply chain model and presents a customer-driven matrix model as a kind of suggestions. In this matrix model, the horizontal flow of supply chain is more significant than the vertical flow. Focusing on the horizontal integration, the paper demonstrates how the matrix model would add value to the customer by taking the example of a city-view healthcare information management system. In addition, the issues and challenges in implementing the model are also delved into.