Role of Soft Skills in Supply Chain Efficiency Other Services

Technology and management skills are available and can be deployed to improve
performance However the soft aspects like attitude mindset, alertness, sense of
accountability, passion and persistence and such other qualities act as enabling forces
to succeed in enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of supply chain.
Hence, more important than supply chain management is “SUPPLY CHAIN
ORIENTATION” among all personnel of all functions in all supply chain partners.
Supply chain orientation is the tacit understanding that focus of all work is towards
meeting the requirement of customers in terms of right time, right quality, right
quantity and right price. Whether you work in procurement, production, marketing,
R&D, HR, or finance, your actions and initiatives have to be directed towards
satisfaction of customer. For achieving this harmony in action following steps are
required.

1) Selection of personnel: Hire for attitude and train for skill. Emphasis at the
time of recruitment should be on candidate’s inclination towards team work,
accountability, positive engagement in work, decency, civility in behaviour
etc.

2) Quality circle concept: Quality circle concept should be introduced in the intra
and inter departmental work ethos. Problems should be identified as a joint
effort and solutions to be devised in consultative manner. Frequent periodical
interactions among team members to sort out issues impacting productivity
must be organized and observed as routine.

3) Information, experience and expertise sharing: All the employees should be
encouraged, motivated and alerted to share information pertaining to
operations of the company from any source they come across. Information
plays vital role in decision making and strategy formulation to sustain
profitable operation. In case of supply chain, information is to be shared across
all links like suppliers logistics providers, customers, distributors and all
agencies involved in supply chain for quick readjustments wherever necessary.
Experience and expertise sharing helps in avoiding similar problems, and
reinventing solutions. It saves time, avoids waste of efforts and expenditure
and increases productivity.

4) Cooperation and collaboration: All functions should work in unison as a team
for common cause of success of supply chain. There should be no blame
game. Information regarding change in any schedule due to unavoidable
circumstances should be instantly shared and solution searched together. This
has to be extended to Inter Company/ inter link cooperation and collaboration
in case of supply chain. Quick responses and readjustments are essential in
maintaining flexibility in supply chain. This is possible only through active
cooperation and collaboration by sharing information and extending support.

5) Relationship Management: This is an extension of above to ensure there are no
misgivings and apprehension among all partners in supply chain. Sharing of
risks and rewards work as common platform for credible and comprehensive
relationship among all partners. Commitment and credibility in all dealings are
hall marks of sustainable relationship.

6) Celebration and Review: Yearly meet of all important functionaries in supply
chain (From all partners) to celebrate success and review progress and
improvements should be arranged for developing long term commitments
among supply chain partners.

All above parameters require a mindset and hence we have to be careful in selecting
and training the personnel for efficient supply chain operations.

H.MBhatt( NC and BOS Member-Vadodara Branch)