What are the supply chain management phases and the types of relationships that occur? Solution Supply chain management can be broadly classified into 5 phases The first phase, planning. Company executives and managers develop strategies to manage resources for timely product delivery. Metrics should be developed to monitor progress and compliance. The second phase, choosing suppliers. Managers are responsible for developing a system for pricing, delivery and payment. The third phase, manufacturing. The manager schedules activities necessary for production, testing, packaging and preparation for delivery of goods or services to customers.The manufacturing process is very intense; worker productivity, level of quality and product output are monitored at this stage. The fourth phase, Delivery or logistics. Managers coordinate order receipts, develop a network of warehouses and choose their carriers. Fifth phase, defect and excess. Here, managers need to review their system of supporting customers who have problems with product delivery. Due to these, the types relationship that would occur as : Raw material supplier : Forming the right partnership with right terms and polices helps develop a good relationship with the suppliers that will prove beneficial to all the parties involved. Manufacturer : After acquiring the right raw material, the organization has to make careful decision on the manufacturing of the product. The demand for the product, technologies required and other important decisions have to be carefully managed at this stage. Distributors: The distributors could include wholesalers and retailers. They are one of the important links between the organization and customers. Customers: They are the most important and also the end-link in the chain. An organization should identify their customers and make sure that the product they produce is what is required..