supply chain is the series of processes involved in getting goods from the supplier to the end user. The following activities form a supply chain: 2). sourcing and processing raw materials ~» logistics and shipping -» manufacture of parts and components + logistics and shipping + assembly of components into finished products ~ logistics and shipping > wholesalers and distributors -> logistics ~> retailing > logistics -> end user (consumer) There is a perception that companies like VW (automobiles), Samsung (telecommunication devices), Lenovo (computers) and Electrolux (domestic appliances) are manufacturing companies, In fact, they are not manufacturing companies because they don't “make’ anything: they are assembly and marketing companies, They put the components together and build their brand. The manufacturing of the components is done by specialized external firms. Container ships carry these components to sub-assembly plants. The sub-assemblies are then shipped to assembly plants where the finished products are assembled. These finished products are then put into other containers and shipped to the markets in which they will be sold. The supply chain process, from raw materials to assembler, is called the ‘upstream’ end of the supply chain. The job of organizing this process is the responsibility of the supply chain manager, also called the procurement manager. This job used to be called purchasing manager, but now the word procurement is used to show that purchasing (i.e. negotiating with suppliers or vendors) is only a small part of managing the whole supply chain. The upstream end of the supply chain ends at the assembler. The second half of the chain, from assembler to retailer to end user, is called the ‘downstream’ end. Another word for this is the distribution channel. It may involve distributors, agents, wholesalers and retailers. It may also involve the Internet as a retail platform, The whole process ends with the consumer. Note that the word customer is not a synonym for consumer ~ each company in the chain is a customer of the one before it, but there is ‘only one consumer: the final end user. wanw.supplychaindefinitions.com (A vocabulary-oriented website with a useful supply chain diagram) wurw.manayementstudyguide.cor (Under Operations/Supply Chain Management, read the overview and explore the more detailed processes on the left) earning how to give a presentation effectively is an important skill in today’s work environment. Most middle and senior managers will attend a course on presentation “euiiskills during their career, There are many different courses on presentation techniques, and they use a wide range of approaches, for example, focusing on the mechanical aspects of presenting (use of software, content of slides, etc.), adopting a creative approach to presenting, adapting content to different audiences, and so on. The following tips may be useful for your students before they give their presentations in module 3.4, Exercise 9: ® Before you start, allow yourself a few moments of silence and peace. Look around the audience, make eye contact and smile. * Speak more slowly than usual, and pause often for dramatic effect. + Don't worry about movement and gestures - attempts to control these will fail as soon as you lose yourself in the subject matter. * Be yourself. Don't try too hard. Relax. Breathe. * Ifyou become nervous or forget your words, drink some water or just pause. The audience won't mind ~ in fact, they will be glad of a few quiet moments to think.