[] () the whole series of processes, companies, places, etc. that are involved in making and selling a product. The supply chain includes the supply of raw materials and parts and the processes of manufacturing, storing, transporting and selling the product to the customer供应链◆every level/point/stage in the supply chain供应链中的每一级／点／阶段◆We develop tools to help companies manage their supply chains.我们开发有助于公司管理其供应链的工具。◆We have achieved a 5% reduction in supply-chain costs.我们已减少 5% 的供应链成本。◆This diagram represents the various links in the supply chain.这张图表示供应链各个环节之间的关系。◆The system allows us to monitor shipments as they move through the supply chain.这个系统有助于我们监视货物在供应链上的运送情况。➡distribution chain ⨁to improve / optimize / overhaul / rationalize / streamline the supply chain改进／优化／全面改革供应链；使供应链合理化；提高供应链效率⨁to shorten / tighten the supply chain缩短／紧缩供应链⨁along / down / in / through / up the supply chain沿着／顺着供应链；在供应链中；通过供应链；朝着供应链The supply chain <chn/>Supplier/Vendor(supplies materials and parts) 供应商（供应原材料和零部件）↓ Producer(supplies finished goods) 生产商（供应制成品）↓Distributors分销商 — wholesalers (sell in large quantities) 批发商（大数额销售） — retailers (sell to the public) 零售商（售给大众） — resellers (especially for computers and software) 中间商（尤指转售电脑和软件者） ↓ Customers客户 — consumers消费者 — businesses商户Note: The word supplier can be used to describe anyone in the chain who sells something to another person. So a distributor can refer to a producer as their supplier. In a similar way, anyone who buys from somebody earlier in the chain is their customer. 供应商（supplier）一词可以指整个链条中向别人出售产品的任何人。因此分销商（distributor）可以把生产商（producer）称为其供应商（supplier）。同样，链条中先前从自己手中购买产品的任何人都可以称为客户（customer）。