The Definitive Guide to Modern Supply Chain Management (Collection)

Case 19. Airbus’ Overstretched Supply Chain: Just How Far Can You Go Before Your Supply Chain Snaps?

Erika Marsillac^† and Tom McNamara^‡

^† Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA; [e-mail]

^‡ ESC-Rennes, Rennes, France; [e-mail]

For decades, companies have been doing their best to increase the performance of, and decrease the costs from, their supply chains. As a result, more and more manufacturers are going farther afield to find suppliers who can provide them with necessary parts and materials at the best cost. Global expansion has given rise to intricate networks and complicated supplier relationships that require highly adept managers to coordinate. Because these supply chains are extremely “lean,” there is ...