Applying the Concepts of Systems Thinking to the Sasol Supply Chain

APPLYING THE CONCEPTS OF SYSTEMS

THINKING TO THE SASOL SUPPLY CHAIN

DESIGN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 3

2. THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE .................................................................................................. 3

3. ORGANISATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN...................................................... 3

4. DIMENSIONS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN................................................................................. 5

5. CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................... 5

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1. INTRODUCTION

In the business environment of supply chain design it is very important to approach each design

with a systems thinking approach as the whole of the design will only be as successful as its

various subsystems and the recurring patterns in the relationships between the subsystems.

2. THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE

The whole of the supply chain can be described from a holistic perspective as a means to supply

products as cost and time effective to meet customer demand. Subsystems operating to support

the whole are road and rail transport, shipping and air freight. The subsystems can further be

analysed into more subsystems namely loading racks for rail, road and shipping with a common

support for all in the form of an order and information system.

3. ORGANISATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

The organisational aspects with a direct impact on the supply chain need to be analysed to fully

understand what impact a change in the subsystem would have on the whole system.

The Environmental aspect:

The contextual and transactional environment in the supply chain operates in, requires constant

analyses for changes like legislation updates, exchange rates, better technology, internal and

external stakeholder satisfaction and possible consolidation between customers.

Ethos