Ketenkennis

2.0

Chain Management

governing conditions and activities relevant to the functioning of the chain, and consistent with the shared goal(s) of the chain, with the following components:
- planning of activities;
- execution of activities;
- evaluation of the execution of activities in confrontation with the planning; 
and as a consequence:
- improvement of the functioning of the chain.
Chain management is dedicated to at least to aspect:
- management covering all links,
- management of individual links from a chain perspective.

2.1

Chain management tools

all those instruments supporting the effective and efficient management of the chain.
 Examples are strategic as well as operational planning methods, Budgeting techniques, and Review methods

2.2

Chain Information Systems  

encompass all those information systems supportive to the functioning of chain links in mutual relationships within the chain.
Examples are systems interlinking POSdata with stockcontrol in external DC’s, Identification systems locating products in various stages in the chain.

2.3

Resource Sharing

joint use of internal and external resources by chain links in order to attain shared chain goals.
Resources are e.g. knowledge bases about consumerbehavior, laboratory facilities, and financial resources (by chain internal banking).

2.4

Integral Chain Care

covers all those activities and conditions necessary to safeguard special attributes of products in the various stages of production.
Applies e.g. to organisational features like positions and responsibilities, to measures of the product, to hazardous events, etc

2.5

Financial Chain Management

employing financial and managerial economic tools to acquire, distribute and dispose of financial resources over links in the chain with the aim to attain shared chain goals.
Distribution of margins between links in the chain is a firmly, disputed example.

2.6

Risk Management

the control of (potential) risks with respect to foodsafety and/or financial operations in the chain.
Risk management follows the, general management scheme and asks in the first place for a thorough analysis of possible risks and the stages in the production process where they will be manifest. It should be noted that risk management is also applicable to other type of risks, like financial risks.