Global Supply Chain Management

Global supply chain management concerns the management of sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution that take place in different countries before a product is sold and delivered to the final buyers. From the view of the focal manufacturing firm, a global supply chain consists of three key parts: the upstream supply network, the manufacturing network of plants belonging to the focal firm, and the downstream distribution network. We discuss managerial perspectives on structuring the supply, manufacturing, and distribution networks as well as the structural aspects of entire global supply chains. In recent years, the number of global and local disturbances has increased, and the number of factors and issues to consider is constantly growing. We discuss considerations concerning restructuring with respect to offshoring and reshoring, tax, national culture, and supply chain risk management and the balance between global and local supply chains.