AMEC Paragon Supply ChainEffective supply chain management can be described as the effective use of methods and processes that integrate manufacturers, suppliers and distribution channels so as to provide products and/or services at the right level at the right time, in the right quantities and at the right location to minimize costs and maximize profits and customer satisfaction (Simchi-Levi , Kaminsky and Simchi-Levi, 2005).AMEC Paragon believes this is essential to the well-being of supplier solutions and integrates it into our mission statement (http://www.amec.com/sustainability/2ndlevel.asp? pageid=9006). AMEC Paragon is an engineering manager, designer, builder and installer of offshore oil and gas platforms, worldwide. This is accomplished by using the customer's ideas and expectations and bringing together manufacturers, suppliers and fabricators to create an oil or gas production platform and the product distribution system to its final destination. The start of each new project requires AMEC Paragon to prepare a service and product distribution network that will deliver what the customer has specified, to the right place and in a timely manner. The customer's specifications allow AMEC Paragon staff to begin the first of many steps involved in completing the project. These specifications help develop the process necessary to identify suppliers who will be able to manufacture or supply the many components needed to build a multi-million dollar platform. Pumps and pipes will be needed to bring oil or gas up from the ocean floor. Steel structures of many types must be assembled to support the numerous vessels and tanks required to process the product. Electric machines of all types will be used to move product from one tank to another. The final assembly of these components is carried out by more than a thousand craftsmen and professionals from a wide range of engineering and construction disciplines. Once assembled and tested, the platform will begin the final check phase to determine if oil or gas can begin to flow and will move on to the process steps that will deliver the product to the customer..