Design, Analysis and Optimization of Supply Chains

Chapter 7

Future Supply Chains and System Dynamics

Future supply chain discussions will be dominated by three overarching topics: greater complexity, increased velocity, and heightened volatility. These three factors are a dangerous and threatening mix. Complexity will continue to increase with the ongoing growth of the virtual enterprise—the hundreds, if not thousands, of companies that work together to produce and deliver a product or service. These complex distributed networks create heightened demands for supply chain coordination and collaboration. Increased velocity will be driven by the need for faster speed to market, shorter planning cycles, greater clock speeds for technology and, in many cases, ever shorter product life cycles. But ...