--- title: Supply Chain Strategy description: Supply chain strategy can be summarised as the operational execution of the business mission. An executive insight into 3 areas to focus on when thinking about your supply chain strategy. image: https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/ED%20Blog/ED%20Images/OEP/SC%20(Supply%20Chain)/SCMP/Supply%20Chain%20Strategy%20Image%202019.jpg --- [![Marques-SoM](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/CGMD%20Blog/Images/CGMD%20Images/Logos/Marques-SoM.png?width=1&name=Marques-SoM.png)](http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som) [![Marques-SoM](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Marques-SoM.png?width=85&name=Marques-SoM.png)](http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som)   - [Home](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge) - Featured - [CEO Summit](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/ceo-summit-2021) - Categories - [Changing World of Work](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/changing-world-of-work) - [Digital Transformation](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/digital-transformation) - [Economics](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/economics) - [Entrepreneurship](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/entrepreneurship) - [Finance and Accounting](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/finance-and-accounting) - [Implementation](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/implementation) - [Leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/leadership) - [Logistics and Supply Chain](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/logistics-and-supply-chain) - [Organisational Behaviour](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/topic/organisational-behaviour) - [Organisational Resilience](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/topic/organisational-resilience) - [Strategic Marketing and Sales](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/strategic-marketing-and-sales) - [Strategy](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/strategy) - [Sustainability](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/sustainability) - [Executive Development](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/executive-development) - Content - [Articles](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/article) - [Whitepapers](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/whitepaper) - [eBooks](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/ebook) - [Podcasts](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/podcast) - [Webinars](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/webinar) - [Videos](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/video) - Programmes - [Open Programmes ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/open-executive-programmes) - [Customised Programmes ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/executive-development/consultancy-and-custom-solutions) - [MBA Programmes ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/cranfield-mba-programmes) - [Master's Apprenticeships ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/management-and-leadership-masterships) - [The Blog](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev) [![JOIN THE KNOWLEDGE HUB](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/417879/b9b69d4d-7ced-4ee8-bd11-b66d3bd4d1b7.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/417879/b9b69d4d-7ced-4ee8-bd11-b66d3bd4d1b7) ### Subscribe you blog for exclusive insights. ![](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/ED%20Blog/ED%20Images/OEP/SC%20(Supply%20Chain)/SCMP/Supply%20Chain%20Strategy%20Image%202019.jpg) read # Supply Chain Strategy By Professor Richard Wilding OBE ![Supply Chain Strategy Image 2019](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/ED%20Blog/ED%20Images/OEP/SC%20(Supply%20Chain)/SCMP/Supply%20Chain%20Strategy%20Image%202019.jpg?width=615&name=Supply%20Chain%20Strategy%20Image%202019.jpg) **Supply chain strategy can be summarised as the operational execution of the business mission. So firstly, understand the business mission, reflect on the corporate strategy of the organisation and plan accordingly.** Secondly recognise an average supply chain means fifty percent of your customers are sick of your service and fifty percent you are spending too much money on. So liaise and discuss with the marketing sales functions of your business because you need to segment your customers and products so that you can develop individual supply chains to create maximum value at the lowest possible cost for each of those segments. Thirdly now for a supply chain strategy to really work four areas need to be designed: - **Supply chain processes** - **Supply chain infrastructure**, including where you locate facilities and the equipment to be used - **Supply chain information systems** - **Supply chain organisation** This is how you organise your people.     Our work in this area at Cranfield is one of the areas explored within the [Leading Supply Chain Transformation Programme](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/open-executive-programmes/logistics-and-supply-chain-management/supply-chain-management-programme)  - one of our specialist programmes designed to develop appropriate skills for next generation professionals in these fields. **Blog produced by:**  Professor Richard Wilding OBE.   Read more: - [Enabling Frictionless Supply Chains](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/enabling-frictionless-supply-chains) - [Keeping a Lid on Supply Chain Complexity](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/keeping-a-lid-on-supply-chain-complexity) - [Securing the Success of Strategic Supply Chain Initiatives Today and Tomorrow](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/securing-the-success-of-strategic-supply-chain-initiatives-today-and-tomorrow) - [Four Things That Should Be On Every Supply Chain Leaders "To Do List"](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/four-things-that-should-be-on-every-supply-chain-leaders-to-do-list) [![Supply Chain Management programme brochure](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/417879/ee18c9ea-5a6e-420e-8ca5-201a45c66fc7.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/417879/ee18c9ea-5a6e-420e-8ca5-201a45c66fc7) Tags: [Cranfield School of Management](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/cranfield-school-of-management), [featured learning](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-learning), [featured leadership](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-leadership), [featured sidebar leadership](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-sidebar-leadership), [featured sidebar all](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-sidebar-all), [featured sidebar learning](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-sidebar-learning), [featured all](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-all), [exec-feature](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/exec-feature), [supply chain](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/supply-chain), [strategy](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/strategy), [strategic supply chain](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/strategic-supply-chain), [supply chain management](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/supply-chain-management), [supply chain strategy](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/supply-chain-strategy) ### Related Articles ## [Strategic Skills for Leaders](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/strategic-skills-for-leaders) *( read )* Topics: [Cranfield School of Management](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/cranfield-school-of-management), [featured learning](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-learning), [featured leadership](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-leadership), [featured sidebar leadership](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-sidebar-leadership), [featured sidebar all](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-sidebar-all), [featured sidebar learning](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-sidebar-learning), [featured all](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-all), [exec-feature](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/exec-feature), [supply chain](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/supply-chain), [strategy](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/strategy), [strategic supply chain](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/strategic-supply-chain), [supply chain management](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/supply-chain-management), [supply chain strategy](http://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/supply-chain-strategy) ## [THRIVE: A new era for executive education - 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