Supply Chain ‘Flows’ Management

This chapter provides an overview of the concept of Supply Chain Flows (SCF). While the normative literature in Supply Chain Management (SCM) emphasizes the importance of three primary flows – material, information, and finance – recent challenges, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, have highlighted the prominence of likely additional flows. This chapter delves into four such flows – human, knowledge, equipment, and technology – that significantly impact supply chain performance. This exploration prompts a reevaluation of traditional SCF scope. Theoretical approaches for effectively managing the interactions among SCF are also proposed. The chapter concludes by suggesting future directions in establishing a consensus-based SCF framework. Overall, this chapter provides a foundation for ongoing efforts to enhance SCF understanding and develop additional theoretical insights for SCM researchers and practitioners.