ASSESSING GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN RISKS IN A LEAN SIX SIGMA WORLD

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the systematic coordination of activities and processes from raw materials to the final consumer.  Since many organizations are located and compete worldwide, Global Supply Chain management (GSCM) has been gaining more visibility. A supply chain generally includes suppliers, production companies, distributors, wholesale organizations, and retail companies. One of its goals is to enhance organizational performance while improving customer satisfaction by efficiently delivering products to the customer.  The entities in the supply chain network work cooperatively to deliver the right product at the right price at right place with quality to final consumers while adding value at each stage. In transitioning from SCM to GSCM, the supply chain network gains complexity and incorporates additional risks. This study provides a general introduction to supply chains, discusses various risks associated with them, and proposes a model that for assessing global supply chain risk within a lean, six sigma framework.