GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Sep 9, 2026
Supply Chain
The supply chain integrates every actor, material flow, and financial exchange from raw material extraction to delivery to the end consumer – spanning suppliers, manufacturers, logistics providers, and retailers.
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain
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Definition & Explanation
The supply chain integrates every actor, material flow, and financial exchange from raw material extraction to delivery to the end consumer – spanning suppliers, manufacturers, logistics providers, and retailers. In practice, it covers procurement, production, warehousing, transport, and distribution, routinely crossing multiple customs jurisdictions. Freight forwarders serve as operational connective tissue: coordinating bookings, cargo documentation, and handoffs between transport modes. Transit time, cost control, and reliability are the metrics that determine whether a supply chain creates competitive advantage or generates friction. Supply chain management (SCM) refers to the strategic governance and continuous optimization of this network – a distinct concept from the chain itself.
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Check transit time: city-to-city index
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