A survey by a leading consulting firm has found that most Fortune 1,000 executives have used supply chain management strategies to aid their companies during tough economic times. About 80 percent of the 150 executives polled by New York-based Accenture said that supply chain initiatives had allowed their companies to curb costs and improve efficiency, customer service and revenues.

The survey also found that executives were giving more thought to outsourcing supply chain functions to third parties. Commenting on the survey results, William C. Copacino, global managing partner for Accenture's Supply Chain Management Practice and a Logistics columnist, said that the recession, coupled with the need to enhance competitiveness, was driving the trend toward outsourcing supply chain functions. He cautioned, though, that a sole focus on cost-cutting could overshadow long-term strategic needs, proving to be counterproductive in a time when supply chains need to be more global and customer-focused.

"Outsourcing key supply chain activities involves major changes," said Copacino. "When approaching these endeavors, we advise clients to view them as mergers rather than outsourcing. If the relationship is more transaction-based, it's not likely to work as well. Company leaders need the right mindset and that includes moving beyond the status quo when outsourcing because they are really building a new supply chain."

The survey also indicated that most executives viewed the Internet as integral to supply chain management. More than 70 percent of those surveyed said that the Internet was one of the most important factors in facilitating collaboration with trading partners because it provided upstream and downstream supply chain visibility.

Finally, the survey noted that creative partnering agreements might prove vital to supply chain success. About 70 percent of the survey respondents said they foresaw partnerships moving beyond the traditional material agreements to new models.