Businesses must set themselves clear goals to efficiently manage their supply chains.

This is according to Hitachi Consulting, which conducted a survey to find out how much supply chain management is integrated with the major business objectives.

Although respondents identified that the myriad of priorities to be considered each had a significant effect on performance, they admitted being unable to implement them with equal vigour. The report therefore recommended that businesses set their own hierarchy of importance that coincides with their own goals.

Jesper Jelmteg, senior vice-president of the industrial sector at Hitachi Consulting, commented that it was essential for management to take the time to pay close attention to the supply chain needs of the business. He said: "They must step back, build the picture, align and prioritise their objectives and then deploy the appropriate change resource."

The survey also revealed that almost three-quarters of managers would not be able to anticipate the required level of change, should a situation arise where the company's supply chain needs to be amended.