Dynamic Supply Chains, 3rd Edition

CHAPTER 11

Fully flexible supply chains: demand-side

How to design for major unexpected disruptions

Here come ‘extreme’ supply chains in the form of the fully flexible configuration. This is a relatively new category of supply chain type, and while it has always existed, it is now attracting more attention as we search for solutions in our increasingly crisis-ridden world. There are two distinct sub-types. The ‘business event’ fully flexible supply chain occurs in industry and commerce when enterprises are faced with completely unexpected disruptions or major departures from ‘business as usual’. Such is the scope and impact of the disruptions to this supply chain, we almost need to embrace catastrophe theory to understand it. And then there’s ...