Operations Planning Process for a Whole Supply Chain: Concepts and a Meat Processing Application

Abstract

Planning processes for the operations of entire supply chains require examination because business competition demands coherent strategies from them. Research into processes for strategic operations planning has defined the steps and procedures required. Some research has partially addressed planning processes for integrated supply chains. The present research begins to specify a process and investigate how a team of managers from the companies in a supply chain can be helped to formulate strategic plans for operating the whole chain, to benefit each company and to benefit the whole chain. Building on previous research, this theoretically-based paper proposes a framework to enable such a process. This chain-wide planning process is illustrated in the Australian meat processing supply chain, with encouraging results. Keywords: Operations Strategy, Planning Process, Meat Industry, Supply Chain Management