Objective of a Supply Chain • Maximize overall value created • Supply chain value: difference between what the final product is worth to the customer and the effort the supply chain expends in filling the customer's request • Value is correlated to supply chain profitability (difference between revenue generated from the customer and the overall cost across the supply chain) • Sources of supply chain revenue: the customer • Sources of supply chain cost: flows of information, products, or funds between stages of the supply chain • Supply chain management is the management of flows between and among supply chain stages to maximize total supply chain profitability