What are the goals of Supply Chain Management?

• A. Increase customer service and reduce inventory investment and operating expenses
• B. Maximize production while ignoring service levels
• C. Increase supplier count without improving service
• D. Minimize transportation costs at the expense of inventory

Answer: (A)

The main concept is that supply chain management aims to deliver the right products to customers when they want them while keeping overall costs under control. The best answer captures this balance by highlighting both higher customer service (better availability and on-time fulfillment) and lower costs tied to inventory and operating expenses. In practice, SCM seeks to meet demand efficiently, using minimal but sufficient inventory and streamlined operations so service levels improve without inflating total costs.

Maximizing production while ignoring service levels would likely raise costs and leave demand unsatisfied, harming customer satisfaction. Increasing supplier count without improving service adds complexity and procurement costs without tangible benefit. Minimizing transportation costs at the expense of inventory ignores the trade-offs, potentially increasing stockouts or safety stock needs and harming service.