Lessons from the history of Samsung’s SCM innovations: focus on the TQM perspective

The purpose of this paper is to provide some lessons learned from the implementation of supply chain management (SCM) innovation in the Samsung Group, arguably the most successful globaliser in South Korea. Our case study allows direct observation of the field, which would be particularly suitable for approaching several managerial functions combined together towards successful SCM performance. There have been some distinguished factors of success such as innovation-oriented leadership and culture, customer-focused product innovation and globalisation, speed-focusing strategy, and closed-loop sales and operations planning and Six Sigma. The experiences in a single company may not fully cover those that could have been made in other successful firms. However, it is expected that Samsung’s success in SCM innovation caused several meaningful ramifications for those interested and the results of this work provide useful implications in this respect.