l Independence (from location) – the location of the supplier is largely irrelevant provided a good procurement and distribution system is in place. This is covered further below under logistics.

　　l Industry (structure) – fast responses to customer demand is liable to affect industry structure as it will often favour larger, better-organised companies who make use of sophisticated ordering and delivery solutions. There are fewer and fewer places in which poor performers can hide.

　　信息技术是推动模型的很好地工具，因为它影响通过电子商务供应链上下游的6I：

　　情报 - 例如，互联网可以跟踪用户的活动，并分析哪些产品的销量的在长或下降。信息可以直接反馈进入数据库用于随后的分析和数据挖掘。

　　互动性 - 互联网的客户可以定制他们的需求。 例如，一些电脑公司按订单要求，允许不同的硬件和软件的组合。

　　集成 – 基于互动性，一旦已有订单，那么便可以推动整个过程开始订购，生产以及发货。

　　个体化 - 例如，为每一个客户提供不同的方案。如果有人买了一个特定的打印机，那么随后可以提供油墨或墨粉盒。

　　独立性(从位置来看) -假如有一个良好的采购和分销系统，那么供应商的位置在很大程度上是无关紧要的。这部分内容在下文涉及物流处进一步讲述。

　　产业(结构) - 对客户需求的快速响有益于影响行业结构，因为这个更偏向采用复杂的采购与交付系统的于较大的，组织更好地企业。表现欠佳是很难在此隐藏生存下去的。

　　SUPPLY CHAIN CHOICES

　　供应链选择

　　Supply chain pathways can be complex:

　　As with many other functions, outsourcing is increasingly used in supply chain management. Logistics companies can perform many supply chain functions more efficiently and economically than they can be done in-house, and we will see some examples below.

　　供应量途径是复杂的

　　与许多其他功能类似，服务外包也被日益运用在供应链管理中。物流企业可以使得许多供应链职能更经济有效，而且我们会看到下面的一些例子。

　　Some of the main choices to be made in supply chain pathways are as follows.

　　(1) Who transports the goods? The main solutions are:

　　the buyer transfers them using own transport

　　the seller transfers them using own transport

　　a logistics company transfers them

　　(2) What delivery pathways are best?

　　(3) Who stores the goods? The organisation, the supplier, or a logistics company.

　　(4) Which manufacturing, packaging, labelling, kitting, or completion tasks are carried out by the organisation and which by other parties? (Kitting relates to processes such as adding batteries).

　　(5) Who is responsible for quality assurance and proper handling of the goods?

　　(6) How should returns be handled?

　　(7) How can fast and responsive deliveries by arranged?

　　(8) Who handles customs clearance?

　　一些主要的选择在供应链途径中如下：

　　(1)谁运输的货物?主要的解决方案是：

　　客户使用自己的交通工具转移

　　销售商使用自己的交通工具转移

　　物流公司转移

　　(2)什么时候交货途径是最好的?

　　(3)谁存储的货物?公司，供应商或物流公司?

　　(4)公司负责制造，包装，标签，装备，或项目完成，那么其他各方完成什么? (装备涉及如添加电池等过程)。

　　(5)谁负责质量保证和货物的妥善处理?

　　(6)应如何申报办理?

　　(7)如何能够安排快速反应及交付?

　　(8)负责处理通关?

　　SUPPLY CHAIN EXAMPLES

　　供应链案例

　　Pharmaceutical: Many pharmaceuticals, such as insulin and flu vaccines, are temperature-sensitive and have to be stored below, say, 5°C to maintain their efficacy and safety. Manufacturers therefore need ensure that their worldwide distribution, by air and road, to hospitals and pharmacies can be guaranteed to have complied with the storage required and that this can be verified and demonstrated. It is not realistic for pharmaceutical companies to carry out such specialised distribution themselves on a worldwide basis, as this would imply refrigerated warehouses, air freight and transportation in every country supplied. Many logistics companies offer suitable services.

　　药物行业：许多药物，如胰岛素和流感疫苗，是温度敏感的因此必须要被存储于5℃以下以保持其功效和安全性。因此，制造商需要展示并确保其全球范围内的航空、公路运输至医院和药店的存储条件。但是制药企业自己开展这样的在全球范围内专门分销的网络是不现实的，因为这将意味着冷藏仓库，空运和交通运输需要在每一个国家均可以提供。然而许多物流企业为此提供合适的服务。