For an international company to remain competitive in the global market, it should successfully integrate its multiple functions within the core areas of performance to ensure a well-managed supply chain capacity. In this regard, marketing, human resource, and finance are the spheres that play a pivotal role in enabling proper supply chain management. Adidas, as a large international sporting apparel-producing company operating on an international market, is an example of an organization that utilizes its expertise in the three areas to balance its supply chain.
Marketing is essential for a relevant supply chain functioning since it identifies the demand in the market to inform the decisions for the supply. At Adidas, “the company’s global supply chain extends through various tiers from strategic manufacturing partners, to componentry and materials suppliers, to raw material sources, such as cotton, leather and natural rubber” (“Supply chain approach,” n. d., para. 3). With the knowledge of the particularities of customers’ demand in the market, the marketing department provides valuable data for the supply chain management.
Furthermore, human resources are a strategically important element in the supply chain management process. As the case of Adidas demonstrates, with high-quality workers competent in their jobs, the company is capable of meeting the interests and needs of all the involved stakeholders (“Supply chain approach,’ n. d.). In particular, the quality of the human resource management department triggers the employment of talented workers across the organizational structure, their proper performance, and ultimate customer satisfaction. Similarly, finance is another essential factor predetermining the success of supply chain management. According to Rezaee (2018), the integration of a holistic approach to financial management allows for the developing of cost-effective strategies that benefit all the stages of the supply chain. These features are particularly important in the context of long-term sustainable development on the international stage.
References
Rezaee, Z. (2018). Supply chain management and business sustainability synergy: A theoretical and integrated perspective. Sustainability, 10(1), 1-17.
Supply chain approach. (n..d.) Web.