1.

Introduction
A supply chain is said to be a system of entities, events, services, people, and
technology associated with the manufacture and distribution of a good. Anything from
the shipment of raw materials from a supplier to the manufacturer to the final delivery to
the end consumer is included in a supply chain. The supply chain sets out all facets of
the manufacturing process, such as the tasks that take place at each point, knowledge
that is shared, raw materials that are converted into useful products, personnel, and other
factors that go into the end product.

Analytics refers to processing data to draw important conclusions, to better make

decisions. The information age consists of data that is well provided for and aligned to
our needs. About all that a business does today is determined in one way or another by
data and analytics. Advanced analytics methods are used by businesses to expand limits
of operations, reduce costs, find various advancement opportunities, and devise
competent budgets. Analytics uses data and mathematics to address business questions,
to identify associations, to forecast unpredictable effects, and to simplify decision
making. Based on applied mathematics, analytics, statistical modelling, and machine
learning methods, this broad field of computer science is used to discover concrete data
correlations and uncover new insights.

1.1 Supply Chain

Supply chain consists of the tasks that is needed by an enterprise to distribute services
and products to the customers. It concentrates on the functional areas within a company
necessary to transform unprocessed resources to end products and services.

Supply chain can be a product-based supply chain or service-based supply chain. When
the supply chain of a company links with the supply chain of vendors and distributors it
leads to the formation of a supply chain network. This network helps to get a better
understand and monitor the movement of resources and expertise.

The need for a company to figure out its supply chain is necessary during the external
review in the pre planning stage. It helps the company to understand its business and
where it would like to see itself in future.

The basic steps of supply chain are procurement of raw materials, conversion into
 primary portions, assembling the parts to create the final product and delivery of the
goods to the customer.

1.2 Supply Chain Challenges

 Insufficient clarity
The supply chain is often complex and tough to comprehend. Thus, making it
difficult to record and arrange for the shifting of products. Without achieving
clarity in this the demand forecasting will be problematic. Excess of products
produced leads to increased amounts of waste and deficit of products produced
causes failure to meet the demands.

 Lag or misplacement of products

Lack of proper follow up and traceability of the products leads to unnecessary
lags and misplacement of products. Thus, in turn affecting the delivery of the
products to the end user. Leading to unhappy customers due to badly maintained
relationships with them.

1.3 Optimization of Supply Chain

Optimization of supply chain increases the ability and efficacy of the supply chain
network using the technical knowledge from Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and
Internet of Things. Supply chain is an important aspect in any business as it helps to
attain good customer relations.

Optimization can be achieved in 3 steps:

 Designing of SC
In this step the main job is to develop an efficient supply chain network which
involves deciding the locations at which the warehouses can be so that the
logistics process works smoothly.
 Planning of SC
It involves creation of an effective supply chain routing protocol, stock storage
planning and easy flow of information between all parties involved in the supply
chain so as to achieve a symmetry between supply and demand.
 Execution of SC
 It involves the administration of the warehouses, procurement centers and timely
delivery of the products so as to satisfy the customer needs and wants.

1.4 Importance of SC Optimization

Agile

Due to the ever-changing customer needs and demands, to match a competitor’s level of
production or to deal with supply disturbances, there is a need for the supply chain to be
agile to keep up to such requirements.
Competitive Edge

Optimization of supply chain acts as one of the main aspects to achieve competitive
edge as it helps to align many processes which helps in making the overall process of
supply chain easier.
Sustainability of SC

As customers are becoming more cautious about the environment and the impacts of
supply chain on the environment. The customers are interested to know if the product
are produced in a vital and ethical manner.

1.5 Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is the management of movement of products or services

beginning from the procurement of raw materials to the distribution to the customer. A
business has a grid of contacts which include providers of raw resources to those who
sell the products directly to the end consumers. A good supply chain decreases
producers and vendors excess stock pile up and it also results in reduction of cost in
terms loss due to excess produce, warehousing costs and so on. An effective supply
chain can be achieved by implementing lean processes. The time involved in the supply
chain process can be reduced by taking necessary steps to make or buy products, or by
outsourcing certain tasks to professional companies
1.6 Segments of SCM

Planning the process

The first step in supply chain management is planning, it is considered as one of the
most crucial steps in supply chain management. A company needs to decide the number
of resources that would be needed to meet the demands. For a company to have a good
supply chain it has to do proper planning so as to meet the objectives.
Sourcing of raw resources

Businesses need to establish relationships with the providers of raw resources which are
needed to make the end product or service that has to be provided. This step involves
many actions like placing order for the materials, obtaining the materials, managing the
stock and handling the financial transactions with these vendors.
Making the end product

During this step the products are produced from the raw materials. The goods are then
put thought various quality checks to make sure it satisfies all the quality standards that
are mentioned. On successful completion of the checks the products are packaged and
sent out for delivery.
Delivery of the goods

The delivery of the finished goods is usually carried out by the logistics section of
supply chain management. The main duties include organizing the goods that should be
heading out for deliveries, sending out the products, handing out of bill of sale to
customers and collecting the payments for the goods sold. Delivery of products can also
be outsourced to other professional logistics companies. Different means of transport
can be used for delivery of goods.
Return of products

This in step the product is sent back to the company from the customers end due to some
errors, imperfections which leads to the customer not being satisfied with the received
product. A company should have a good back logistics network for the smooth working
of the return process.
1.7 Objective of the study

 To analyse the performance of the supply chain of milma using post process indices.
 To compare the performance of milma with its major competitor.
 To analysis the supply chain using SIPOC maps.
 To analysis the demand and supply of milma.

1.8 Scope of the study

Milma is a powerful and influential dairy company in Kerala which has many competitors.
The logistics of the company is considered as one of the important aspects of the business
which can be improved by incorporating new methods and technologies. This research helps
to focus on the benefits Milma can achieve with the implementation of supply chain
analytics. The proper analysis of data helps to predict the future scenarios and take better
precautions to deal with risks and reduce the wastes generated leading to a sustainable chain.
Leveraging the benefits from the dashboards created helps Milma to have a competitive edge.

1.9 Necessity for the Study

Application of Supply Chain Analytics at Milma helps to provide many benefits like:

 By analyzing the previous data to better understand the sequence and tendency
of risks that has been occurring over the past years at Milma.
 Proper analysis of need and supply can help make better decisions related to
procurement of materials and inventory management.