Domain 7: Supply Chain (824713)¶

Building a resilient, responsive supply network

Classification: Value Chain Version: v0.1 (Draft)

Overview¶

This domain encompasses the enterprise's ability to source, procure, move, store, and distribute goods and services across its extended supply network. It spans from upstream supplier relationships through internal logistics to final-mile delivery, and includes the planning and risk management activities that keep the supply chain responsive and resilient. In a ZORBA-enabled enterprise, the supply chain is arguably the most agent-ready domain — with mature use cases in demand forecasting, inventory optimisation, route planning, supplier monitoring, and autonomous procurement within defined parameters. Agents here operate at scale and speed that human-only models cannot match.

ZORBA Hierarchy: Domain → Capability → Process¶

ZORBA Level    │  APQC Equivalent     │  Description
───────────────┼──────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────
Domain         │  Category            │  Major area of enterprise activity
Capability     │  Process Group       │  What the organisation can do
Process        │  Process             │  How work flows to deliver a capability

Capabilities & Processes¶

7.1 Source and Procure Goods and Services (391572)¶

Identify, evaluate, negotiate, and contract with suppliers to secure the goods and services the enterprise requires — balancing cost, quality, risk, and sustainability objectives.

#	Process	ID	Agentic Profile
7.1.1	Define sourcing strategies and category plans	518234	H+a — Humans design strategy; agents analyse spend data and market conditions
7.1.2	Identify and qualify potential suppliers	673841	h+A — Agents screen supplier databases and assess fit; humans shortlist
7.1.3	Conduct sourcing events and negotiate terms	429187	H+a — Humans lead negotiations; agents model scenarios and benchmark pricing
7.1.4	Manage purchase orders and procurement transactions	856312	A — Agent-executed; automated PO creation within approved parameters
7.1.5	Evaluate and onboard new suppliers	294768	H=A — Agents run due diligence checks; humans make final approval decisions
7.1.6	Manage contract compliance and renewal cycles	731456	h+A — Agents track contract terms and flag renewals; humans negotiate amendments

7.2 Manage Supplier Relationships and Performance (562381)¶

Build, maintain, and govern ongoing relationships with suppliers — monitoring performance, managing development, and ensuring mutual value creation across the supply base.

#	Process	ID	Agentic Profile
7.2.1	Segment and tier the supplier base	184329	H=A — Agents analyse spend and risk data; humans define segmentation criteria
7.2.2	Monitor and evaluate supplier performance	647213	h+A — Agents track KPIs and generate scorecards; humans review and act
7.2.3	Conduct supplier business reviews and development programmes	815674	H+a — Humans lead reviews; agents prepare performance packs and trend analysis
7.2.4	Manage supplier corrective actions and improvement plans	392847	H=A — Agents track actions and deadlines; humans manage supplier engagement
7.2.5	Manage supplier risk and contingency planning	536412	h+A — Agents monitor risk signals (financial, geopolitical); humans define contingencies

7.3 Plan and Manage Logistics and Distribution (418639)¶

Design, operate, and optimise the physical movement of goods from origin to destination — including transportation, warehousing, and distribution network management.

#	Process	ID	Agentic Profile
7.3.1	Design and optimise the distribution network	729385	H=A — Agents model network scenarios; humans decide structural changes
7.3.2	Plan and schedule transportation movements	563412	A — Agent-executed; automated route optimisation and carrier assignment
7.3.3	Manage warehousing and distribution centre operations	847261	H=A — Agents optimise storage and picking; humans manage workforce and exceptions
7.3.4	Track shipments and manage in-transit visibility	218534	A — Agent-executed; real-time tracking with proactive exception alerts
7.3.5	Manage freight costs and carrier performance	694173	h+A — Agents analyse costs and benchmark carriers; humans negotiate and select
7.3.6	Manage returns logistics and reverse supply chain	375918	H=A — Agents process returns and route items; humans handle disposition decisions

7.4 Manage Inventory Across the Supply Network (257914)¶

Plan, control, and optimise inventory levels across all nodes in the supply chain — balancing service levels, working capital, and obsolescence risk.

#	Process	ID	Agentic Profile
7.4.1	Set inventory policies and target service levels	483126	H+a — Humans define policies; agents model trade-offs and recommend targets
7.4.2	Monitor inventory positions and movements in real time	926347	A — Agent-executed; continuous visibility with automated reorder triggers
7.4.3	Optimise replenishment and reorder parameters	614283	h+A — Agents calculate optimal parameters; humans approve significant changes
7.4.4	Manage slow-moving, excess, and obsolete inventory	730226	H=A — Agents identify at-risk stock; humans decide write-down or disposal actions
7.4.5	Conduct inventory counts and reconciliation	742158	H=A — Agents schedule and track counts; humans investigate discrepancies

7.5 Optimise Demand Forecasting and Supply Planning (693248)¶

Generate, refine, and act on demand forecasts that drive supply chain planning decisions — integrating statistical models, market intelligence, and collaborative input from sales and operations.

#	Process	ID	Agentic Profile
7.5.1	Generate statistical demand forecasts	821634	A — Agent-executed; automated model selection and forecast generation
7.5.2	Enrich forecasts with market intelligence and sales input	475312	H=A — Agents integrate data sources; humans add qualitative judgement
7.5.3	Conduct sales and operations planning cycles	316849	H+a — Humans lead consensus process; agents prepare scenarios and gap analysis
7.5.4	Translate demand plans into supply and production signals	548273	h+A — Agents generate supply plans; humans validate feasibility
7.5.5	Monitor forecast accuracy and refine models	192467	A — Agent-executed; continuous model tuning with human review of significant shifts
7.5.6	Manage demand shaping and demand sensing	763518	h+A — Agents detect demand signals in real time; humans decide shaping actions

7.6 Manage Supply Chain Risk and Resilience (438172)¶

Identify, monitor, and mitigate risks across the extended supply chain — from single-source dependencies to geopolitical disruptions — ensuring the supply network can absorb and recover from shocks.

#	Process	ID	Agentic Profile
7.6.1	Map and assess supply chain risk exposure	524381	h+A — Agents map multi-tier dependencies; humans assess strategic vulnerabilities
7.6.2	Monitor supply chain risk signals and early warnings	879643	A — Agent-executed; continuous scanning of geopolitical, weather, and financial signals
7.6.3	Develop and maintain supply chain contingency plans	316524	H+a — Humans design contingencies; agents maintain playbooks and test readiness
7.6.4	Execute supply chain disruption response	741283	H=A — Agents activate playbooks and reroute; humans manage critical decisions
7.6.5	Conduct supply chain resilience assessments and stress tests	253918	H=A — Agents run simulations; humans evaluate findings and invest in resilience

7.7 Govern Third-Party and Partner Ecosystem Relationships (185463)¶

Manage the broader ecosystem of third-party service providers, logistics partners, contract manufacturers, and platform participants that extend the enterprise's supply chain capabilities.

#	Process	ID	Agentic Profile
7.7.1	Define third-party governance frameworks and standards	642179	H+a — Humans set governance standards; agents benchmark and track compliance
7.7.2	Onboard and integrate ecosystem partners	397514	H=A — Agents manage onboarding workflows; humans approve and establish relationships
7.7.3	Monitor ecosystem partner performance and compliance	813246	h+A — Agents track SLAs and compliance metrics; humans manage escalations
7.7.4	Manage data exchange and integration across the ecosystem	564832	h+A — Agents operate integration platforms; humans govern data standards
7.7.5	Review and rationalise the partner ecosystem periodically	238617	H+a — Humans make portfolio decisions; agents analyse utilisation and overlap

Summary¶

Capability	ID	Process Count
7.1 Source and Procure Goods and Services	391572	6
7.2 Manage Supplier Relationships and Performance	562381	5
7.3 Plan and Manage Logistics and Distribution	418639	6
7.4 Manage Inventory Across the Supply Network	257914	5
7.5 Optimise Demand Forecasting and Supply Planning	693248	6
7.6 Manage Supply Chain Risk and Resilience	438172	5
7.7 Govern Third-Party and Partner Ecosystem Relationships	185463	5
Total		38 processes

Agentic Profile Legend¶

Code	Meaning
H	Human-only — agent participation not appropriate
H+a	Human-led with light agent support
H=A	Balanced human-agent collaboration
h+A	Agent-led with human oversight or approval
A	Agent-autonomous within defined boundaries