An office furniture manufacturing company has dealings with a number of suppliers and service providers that provide raw materials, accounting services, web hosting, equipment, and parts. These suppliers are ________ in relation to the company in the supply chain relationship.
Explanation
Answer: C - An office furniture manufacturing company has dealings with a number of suppliers and service providers that provide raw materials, accounting services, web hosting, equipment, and parts. These suppliers are upstream in relation to the company in the supply chain relationship. In supply chain management, companies providing raw materials and other products and services necessary to run a manufacturing business are said to be placed upstream in the supply chain relationship. Through this relationship, supplies move from the supplier to the manufacturer, and from there they are moved from wholesaler to retailer and, finally, to consumer.