The LIVING Supply Chain: The Evolving Imperative of Operating in Real Time

Creates a managerial compass for entering into the LIVING (Live, Intelligent, Velocity, Interactive, Networked, and Good) era of supply chain management and defines the imperative for creating Velocity and Visibility as the focal point for exploiting new digital, mobile, and cloud–based technologies

Written by well–known researchers in the field, this book addresses the changes that have occurred and are still unfolding at various organizations that are involved in building real–time supply chains. The authors draw on their experiences with multiple companies, along with references to the natural evolution of ecosystems throughout to help identify the new rules of supply chain management." The LIVING principles associated with the rapid digitization and technology changes occurring in the global economy are discussed, along with the push to become more sustainable and responsive to customer needs. Utilizing the LIVING framework provides readers with a roadmap for transformation that explores the following questions: Live  Do you have a real–time (LIVE) view of your information?; Intelligent  Are you able to connect the essential leverage points in your network through cloud, mobile, and other mediums that provides a platform for analytics?; Velocity  Is your entire enterprise and network focused on moving assets faster than ever before in its history?; Interactive Is there a common governance structure that defines how observations are translated into issues, monitored, validated, and translated into specific actions and responses?; Networked  Is your multi–enterprise supply chain networked in such a manner that a common and aligned view of business priorities and actions aligned with trusting relationships common to everyone?; and Good  Is your network seeking to create good by the application of transparency that can drive improved sustainability, integrity, human, and labor rights and expose fraud and counterfeit activities in your global supply chain?

In addition, this book:

Features emerging trends that are shaping supply chain operations worldwide as well as impacting the global business landscape Covers a broad range of topics in real–time supply chains, fractal supply chains, and supply chain genome networks Offers comprehensive explanations behind major developments taking place in industry and references leading companies Presents the new rules of supply chain management that draw on those developed in the book The Serengeti Rules Uniquely presents the application of real–time data in addition to discussing practical and real–world challenges such as increased disruptions in supply chains, use of big data, and increased optimization using data Discusses traditional scholarly approaches along with the current phenomenon that are challenging many prescribed supply chain strategies

The LIVING Supply Chain: The Evolving Imperative of Operating in Real Time is an ideal reference for professionals and practitioners in supply management, logistics, computer science, analytics, statistics, operations research, and industrial engineering. This book can also be used as a supplement for MBA–level courses in supply chain management. 

Robert Handfield, PhD, is Bank of America University Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management and Director of the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative at North Carolina State University. The author of four books and over 150 journal articles, Dr. Handfield received his PhD in Operations Management from The University of North Carolina in 1990.

Tom Linton is Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer at Flextronics. A recognized industry and functional expert, he has 30 years of international industrial experience in procurement and supply chain management.