Managing the global supply chain: a perspective for small and medium enterprises

This paper aims to highlight the underlying factors that contribute to the effective management of a global supply chain from the perspective of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Global competition has placed considerable pressure on SMEs to improve on cost and efficiency, to provide value-added services to meet market demand, leading to a need for them to re-examine their competitive strategies. Through a case study on a UK firm, GB Electronics Ltd (GBE), the ‘key motives’, ‘enablers’ and ‘inhibitors’ of supply chain management, particularly related to cultural differences, were investigated. A framework for effective collaboration was then established to provide an insight into possible ways of addressing these issues adequately within SMEs.