Using the example of a matrix implementation at Atrium Health, the authors discuss the challenges that emerge when an organization moves to a matrix reporting structure — that is, when employees shift from straight-line reporting to having two bosses, and when leaders’ reports also report to someone else. They describe the four elements that make up a well-functioning matrix model, best practices for creating balance among those elements,...

The global landscape has changed dramatically since the first edition of Strategic Supply Chain Management established itself as the authority on creating value and achieving competitive advantage from the supply chain. Shorter economic cycles, more-frequent natural disasters, higher costs in low-cost countries, more-restricted access to working capital, and greater focus on sustainability have made effective supply chain management much more challenging--and...

Companies face heightened scrutiny of how their products are made, including their suppliers' labor practices and environmental impacts. Across a range of industries, including apparel and consumer electronics, companies are facing pressures from all sides to demonstrate better environmental and social practices in their supply chains. This article explains how companies stand to benefit from increasing visibility into their supply chains and provides...

USE KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION TO MAXIMIZE VALUE FROM TODAY'S SOPHISTICATED, FAST-CHANGING SUPPLY NETWORKS Build integrated, complementary supply networks that work together to win Accelerate the cycle from needs identification to product/service launch to customer experience Create long-term strategy adherence to the business that competes in fluid environments Leading companies are developing powerful new techniques for managing today's complex, fluid...

"Supply chain management is a topic of great interest in businesses today with new technology and environmental issues, along with the need to reduce costs. Add to this the fact that supply chain professionals have been entrusted with managing nearly $1 trillion worth of logistics costs every year, representing close to 8.5% of the total U.S. gross domestic product and a clearer picture emerges of what is at stake and what can be gained by running...

This new case study examines supply chain issues faced by food retailers as consumers demand greater variety, more fresh produce, and year-round access to exotic products--ranging from Fair Trade coffee from Bali to fresh-cut roses from Kenya. It discusses what managers must do to manage increased supply chain complexity, use real-time data more effectively, forecast and model more accurately, and make better decisions when the cost of mistakes can...

This new supply chain management case study focuses on BESSI, one of Italy's most fashionable leather goods and accessories brands. It presents key performance challenges in logistics, including delayed deliveries, high inventory levels, and unavailable products, showing how these problems are exacerbated in an industry with high product obsolescence risks. Readers are guided in pinpointing planning weaknesses and identifying potential solutions....

The early years of the 21st century have been notable for major supply chain disruptions that have highlighted vulnerabilities for individual companies and for entire industries. In addition to the loss of life, the Japanese tsunami in 2011 left the world auto industry reeling for several months. Thailand's 2011 floods impacted the supply chains of computer manufacturers dependent on hard disks and Japanese auto companies with plants in Thailand....

This new supply chain management case study examines supplier selection at Kerneos, Incorporated, a leading manufacturer of cement products based on alumina content. It describes the critical role of supplier selection in Kerneos's supply chain transformation, which is using new IT tools to link distribution and sales demand more tightly with production planning and placing far greater emphasis on working capital. Focusing on realistic issues and...