Network,Route and Item Costs

[maddysbi]

Hi All,

         My knowledge is supply chain is very basic.Want to work on inventory optimization.Could anyone help me with understanding of Network and Route in relation to SAS.Say,I have a Factory 1 Factory 2,Distribution Centre and Sales office1,Sales office 2.A factory can supply to DC and Sales office,but DC can supply only to sales office.

How does the concept of Primary Network and Primary Route apply here?.Any combination with examples will do.

In what way will the primary and alternate routes affect my optimization?

Also,considering same supply chain,same Item might have different prices depending on where it is located and the market it is catering to.What is its importance in supply chain related to costs?

Thanks,

Maddy