{"id":83973,"date":"2024-12-13T12:55:15","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T12:55:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/glossary\/supply-chain-monitoring-2\/"},"modified":"2025-04-16T09:25:27","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T09:25:27","slug":"supply-chain-monitoring","status":"publish","type":"glossary-item","link":"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/glossary\/supply-chain-monitoring\/","title":{"rendered":"Supply Chain Meaning & Definition US"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What is a supply chain? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A supply chain<\/a> is a network of individuals and\/or companies who are involved in making a product for a consumer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An example of a supply chain can be illustrated through looking at the product of a chocolate bar. The supply chain of a chocolate bar may include producers (who grow the raw materials), processors (who turn raw materials into something you can make chocolate from), logistics (who move the product through each stage of production), packaging, and marketing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There can be significant challenges<\/a> within supply chains. These include high risk commodities, business concerns, supply chain risk, and traceability and mapping.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"90e4563b-3a0f-48ed-b450-18be9c2501b4.png\"\/<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An example of a supply chain: Cocoa and Deforestation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Building on the previous example of a chocolate bar, let\u2019s dive deeper into the potential challenges within supply chain monitoring<\/a>. The raw material used to produce chocolate bars is cocoa. Global cocoa production relies almost entirely on 5 to 6 million smallholder farmers.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key issue associated with cocoa production is deforestation<\/a>. This produces specific challenges that can span the globe and range from: <\/p>\n\n\n\n