The Reality of Supply Chain-Oriented Inventory of SMEs in an Emerging Country

The most important challenge for Supply Chain Management (SCM), nowadays, is to cope with the amplification and the complexity of flows between the different companies in the logistics network through the implementation of best practices as a strategic factor in its competitiveness. Also, under the current raising uncertainty level of business environment, the inventory management seems to be one the most critical functions that should be mastered in order to reduce costs and avoid stock out situations. Actually, all SC practices, including inventory management, are regularly reviewed to identify those that represent a competitive advantage or a risk factor. This article has for principle goal to assess the maturity of inventory management practices as a determinant factor of supply chain performance of an Algerian SME operating in the food sector. This assessment can be done by using reference models such as SCOR model, ASLOG, SCALE, OLIVER WEIGHT and Global EVALOG. Our choice is based on ASLOG Model that allows identify overall strengths and weaknesses of the inventory management practices, namely the logistics platforms and warehousing management, the inventory management, the activities and risks management, and finally, the staff and responsibilities in order to implement action plans that consists in consolidating strengths and developing solutions for weaknesses