Supply chain and RFI

What is Supply chain and RFI?

Supply chain refers to activities, people, information, activities, resources and organization in business and finance that is engaged in moving the goods from the suppliers to the ultimate consumers. It involves the process of taking the raw material, component or other resources and converting into finished goods and for the purpose of transporting the goods to the end customers. The request for information of the RFI is a process of business whose main aim is to collect the information regarding the different supplier’s capabilities. It uses a format that will be used for comparative purpose. RFI is usually prepared in order to gather necessary information regarding what has to be done next. Therefore the RFI’s are to be used in the final stage or even in addition to Request for proposal or the RFP or even request for quotation.

When was the Supply chain and RFI was started and by whom?

RFI or the request for information was used for the purpose of tracked using spreadsheet and then in the 21^st century various companies used construction application and included document management platforms and were engaged in managing the process of RFI. These have helped in saving time, reducing the cost, improving quality and others. A supply chain that is typical began with biological, ecological, and various other regulations that are politics related to the natural resources and included the extraction of the resources, and include various links of production. There are different layers of storage facilities with increasing geographical location and decreasing size of and finally reaching the end consumers. Therefore most of the exchanges taking place in the supply chain is a result of different companies seeking to improve their revenues within the area if interest and may have little knowledge of the other payers and others. There is an extended enterprise that cooperates to provide services and goods.

What is the need for the Supply chain and RFI?

Supply chain helps in planning and management of different activities, that is engaged in sourcing and procurement or purchase and its conversion and includes other activities related to logistic activities. It includes activities of collaboration and coordination with other partners of the supply chain that may include the suppliers, the intermediaries or other people. It helps in integrating the demand and supply across different companies. It is therefore a function of creating a link between different functions and business processes within a company and across different companies, into a business model of high performance. It is engaged in carrying out logistic activities. The request for information is used in the construction industry, it is used in management and it can also be used to provide fir the unjustifiable claims.   

What are the uses of Supply chain and RFI?

The supply chain is used in management such as in case of supply chain management or SCM was introduced to integrate the processes of business through original suppliers and from the end users. Original suppliers are the people who provide the goods and services and also provide information that adds value for the stakeholders and the customers. The main idea behind the introduction of the SCM was to corporations and companies indulge themselves into exchanging information through analysis of market fluctuations and others. Through the help of internet the customers can directly contact the suppliers and thus helps in reducing the extra costs that was payable to the middlemen. Corporate social responsibility can be there through the entire supply chain and there needs to be auditor of goods and services through the supplier. There can be agricultural supply chains. There is supply chain security. The RFI can be used in the construction industry. Whenever the constructions project is missing any information which is required to proceed with the works scope. An RFI can be raised by the general contractors and even architects and other people.

What is the criticism of Supply chain and RFI?

Some of the major drawbacks of the supply chains are that they fail to implement adherence measures, there is also a low rate of implementation, and most of the companies do not take supply chain so seriously. There is lack of accurate data, and familiarity. The size of the supply chain determines the availability of information. Some of the disadvantages of RFI is that supplier may not like to send any information if they do not have a good relationship with the company.

Related topics and concepts of Supply chain and RFI

Supply chain management refers to management and planning activities engaged in the procurement and sourcing activities, conversion and other logistical activities. In order to achieve the same it enters into a collaborative relationship with other partners of the supply chain. Supply chain helps in combing the demand and supply for the goods and services. RFI can be used and a solicitation used to send to the suppliers asking them for the offers, using database, developing different strategies, and others.