Get to know the vital terms of Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
A “link” is a term in logistics that refers to a connection or segment in the supply chain that permits the movement, handling, or transfer of goods between different points. Each link in the supply chain is important to make sure that products move well from origin to destination, thus giving an easy flow of goods and information.
Every link indicates a particular step in the supply chain, production, warehousing, distribution, and delivery. By linking all these phases systematically, supply chains can easily operate to avoid any delays.
A link primarily supports the movement of goods that may involve a movement between facilities, such as factories, warehouses, or even distribution centres. In some cases, the transport links can be local or international depending on the scope of the supply chain.
Links are not only physical transfers but also communicative and data interchange across points in the chain. Coordination at these points ensures that every link has enough information to manage the inventory, track shipments, and forecast demand.
The efficiency of its links defines much of the strength of a supply chain. For example, when one of its links fails or undergoes delay, then there could be the possibility that its chain gets affected by reduced delivery times, high expenses, and potentially dissatisfied customers. In general, a well-coordinated supply chain guarantees the availability of goods to customers where and when required thus, improving its general reliability.
In summary, these links are the basic supply chain relationships allowing easy transfer and smooth flow of both goods and information. It is with the strength of such strong links that an efficient chain should depend to allow an easier operation with on-time deliveries and, therefore, the enhancement of service quality leading to better customer satisfaction.