Supply Chains: A Manager's Guide

The New Competition

Very few companies are prepared to handle the new pressures being placed on their supply chains. A recent survey of executives in manufacturing companies found that 91% of them ranked supply chain management as either “very important” or “critical” to the success of their companies. Yet most acknowledged that they had problems with their chains, and only 2% regarded their chains as excellent. When asked about their strategies to improve their chains, 59% reported that their company had no strategy at all. Think about this for a moment: By their own reports, these managers realize that getting the supply chain right is essential, and they know they haven't done it yet, but most haven't even formulated a strategy for attacking ...