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What is Supply Chain Management?
A supply chain is a group of businesses linked together for mutual benefit to supply products to customers. Within horticulture whether the product is fruit, vegetables, tree nuts, turf, flowers or nursery plants, the supply chain links the "paddock to the plate". Supply chain involves much more than simply the logistics of moving product along the chain. A true "paddock to plate" approach includes the following issues, working backwards from the consumer:
- eating quality (for edible products)
- external appearance
- food safety
- integrity and traceability
- in-store handling, presentation, consumer behaviour
- Inventory management, volumes, storage conditions
- Transport logistics, supply chain relationships, e-commerce
- Sorting, packing, postharvest treatments
- Harvest management and logistics
- Production practices
- Choice of variety, growing location
Together these aspects of the supply chain drive consumer satisfaction and industry profitability.
HAL's Supply Chain Portfolio
The HAL Supply Chain portfolio area provides a way to link and integrate all HAL portfolio areas from breeding and environmental management to postharvest practices and marketing communications. This provides an opportunity to deliver a true "value-adding" function to the industry programs managed by HAL.
HAL Supply Chain Strategic Plan
HAL's Supply Chain Vision
A globally competitive, profitable industry through improved use of information, coordination and innovation to deliver consumer satisfaction through efficient and effective chains.
HAL's Supply Chain Mission Statement
To deliver supply chain improvements for the industry by addressing key commercial drivers through cross-disciplinary approaches which add value to industry and HAL investments. Focused on the twin goals of consumer satisfaction and grower profitability and steered by sound knowledge based on ongoing internal (industry) and external (global) information and analysis.
HAL's Supply Chain Program
HAL is currently developing and managing "supply chain focused" projects, while providing an integrating function across all portfolio areas.
HAL works with individual industries to develop market information and analysis systems to better manage changes that affect industry.
Recent Projects
Supply chain encompasses many different factors, falling into the categories of INFORMATION, COORDINATION OR INNOVATION. Examples of recent projects in these areas are:
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VG05082 - Vegetable Marketing Information Audit
This audit developed a framework for the collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of domestic and international marketing information (trade, retail and consumer) required by the Australian vegetable industry. The next stage will address the gaps in information identified and prioritized by stage 1.
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AP02034 - Export Market Development for Australian Apples
The aim of this fifteen-month project was to use market intelligence and product quality data to maximise returns for Pink Lady?exports in 2002 and to develop a business plan for 2003-05. Funded by AFFCO, Pink Lady Australia and Horticulture Australia Ltd, the project developed a Business Plan with a goal of achieving the export of 500,000 cartons of Pink Lady?apples and 100,000 cartons of Sundowner?apples. This included aims of extending the current market window in the UK to include July and August, and continued efforts to develop successful markets in Europe (slightly lower specifications) and the USA (slightly larger fruit).
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HG04022 - Integrated Monitoring/Tracking System for Perishable Products
This project is based around RFID - an acronym we are set to hear a lot in future. Every time your vehicle's automatic tag is "read" when you use a toll way, or your pets (or livestock) have identity chips implanted, you are using RFID technology, or "Radio Frequency Identification". Sometimes described as a "wireless barcode", RFID has innumerable applications, from finding files in storage, tracking documents around an office, to locating particular pallets or cartons of produce within a warehouse. The wine industry already uses RFID to identify blocks of varying maturity, to signal harvesters to stop or start picking. This project developed a system to track the temperature, as well as the location, of items or consignments. This is currently being commercialised.
Click here to visit the searchable database of summaries of all of HAL's completed projects.
Supply Chain Resources
Information (& Training)
- Agribusiness Supply Chains - Learning from others CD-ROM available from New Industries Development Program (NIDP). Phone 1300 884 588
- The Cold Chain Centre (CCC) is offering targeted Food Export Logistics Training cold chain courses for both managers and operators in all sectors and industries from growers through to retailers http://www.coldchaincentre.com.au/cold-chain-training.php
- HAL Retail Training Modules (currently under revision, please register interest at richard.bennett@horticulture.com.au)
- Australian Business Entry Point www.business.gov.au (Navigating tip: go to 'Start and run a business' and then 'Supply Chain Partnerships')
Coordination
Innovation
For a more extensive list of resources download the full bibliography of Supply Chain Resources (xls file, 673 Kb).
Other Sources of Funding for Supply Chain Development and Training
Click here for a list of other sources of funding and training that are available and that are related to horticultural Supply Chain management.
There are numerous training options, relating to business management, the development of e-business, how to map your supply chain and how to manage and improve your supply chain.
The funding options range from large scale Food Innovation Grants (FIG), Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) to smaller grants such as Australian Logistics Assured program (available in VIC, TAS and SA) and the funding for Regional and Rural Renewal.
The task of applying for funding may seem daunting however there is also a list of people who assist in the preparation of grants, usually for a fee. This list of service providers is not exhaustive but it does give you an idea of the support that is available.
Each entry has a brief description of the type of assistance and the level of funding. Each entry has a website link which may be reached by clicking over the cell containing the website address. The website links take you to the relevant department which outlines the eligibility, level of funding, closing dates and the application form.
HAL can accept no responsibility for these non-HAL schemes, which may well be subject to change - we welcome advice on errors or omissions and will update this page accordingly.
HAL Supply Chain Solutions Workshop Summary
On 1 June 2006 HAL held a Supply Chain Solutions workshop. This followed the PMA event "Mastering the Supply Chain". Click on the download below for a summary of these meetings with notes and case studies. Also included is the initial response to some of the issues raised at the events |
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