Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

A. About the authors -- B. Preface -- The promise and the challenges for global supply chains -- The purpose of this book -- The epic structure -- What is unique about this book? -- How this book will help you -- Who should read the book -- C. Acknowledgments -- 1. The global supply chain landscape -- Supply chain evolution—journey to the past -- Evolution or devolution—two steps forward, two steps back? -- A spinning wheel—what goes around … comes around -- Is the world flat or not?—a planet with one mind -- The path forward—we got to get out of this place -- Leveraging global supply chains—a question of balance -- In search of the lost chord: the epic structure revealed -- Concluding remarks -- References -- 2. Understanding the epic structure -- Assessing countries with the epic structure -- Examining the dimensions in the epic structure -- Summary and conclusions -- References -- 3. East Asia -- Economic and political background -- Assessing the maturity level of east Asia supply chains -- Main trends in east Asia -- Key takeaways for east Asia -- References -- 4. South Asia -- Economic and political background -- The markets -- Assessing the maturity level of south Asian supply chains -- Main trends in south Asia -- Key takeaways for south Asia -- References -- 5. Southeast Asia -- Economic and political background -- The markets -- Assessing the maturity level of southeast Asian supply chains -- Key takeaways for southeast Asia -- References -- 6. Australia -- Economic and political background -- The markets -- Assessing the maturity level of supply chains in Australia -- Key takeaways for Australia -- References -- 7. The middle east and north Africa -- Economic and political background -- Assessing the maturity level of mena supply chains -- Main trends in mena -- Supply chain challenges -- Supply chain opportunities -- Key takeaways for mena -- References -- 8. Sub-saharan Africa -- Economic and political background -- Assessment of the maturity level of sub-saharan Africa supply chains -- Main trends in sub-saharan Africa -- Supply chain challenges -- Supply chain opportunities -- Sub-saharan Africa best practices -- Key takeaways for sub-saharan Africa -- References -- 9. Western Europe -- Economic and political background -- Assessing the maturity level of western European supply chains -- Supply chain challenges -- Supply chain opportunities -- Key takeaways for western Europe -- References -- 10. Central and eastern Europe -- Economic and political background -- The markets -- Assessing supply chain maturity -- Supply chain challenges in cee -- Supply chain opportunities and best practices in the region -- Key takeaways for central and eastern Europe -- References -- 11. North and central America -- Economic and political background -- Assessing the maturity level of north and central American supply chains -- Main trends in north and central America -- Supply chain challenges and opportunities -- Key takeaways for north and central America -- References -- 12. South America -- Economic and political background -- Assessing the maturity level of south American supply chains -- Main trends in south America -- Key takeaways for south America -- References -- 13. Summary and conclusions -- The supply chain manager's challenges: this is the world we live in -- The epic dimensions: revisiting the fab four -- As time goes by: learning to live in the modern world -- References.

A proven framework for measuring the supply chain potential of geographic regions. Managing a complex global supply chain requires a strategic assessment of the various factors that can affect decisions on procurement, manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, distribution, and sales. Co-written by renowned experts in global supply chain management, this book presents a systematic, structured approach to evaluating ten global regions with respect to their supply chain activities. The maturity level for each region is assessed using the EPIC framework—Economy, Politics, Infrastructure, and Competence. Managers of supply chains can use this framework and the exclusive data in this practical, timely resource to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the different global regions and determine their supply chain strategies accordingly.

Managing a complex global supply chain requires a strategic assessment of the various factors that can affect decisions on procurement, manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, distribution, and sales. Co-written by renowned experts in global supply chain management, this book presents a systematic, structured approach to evaluating ten global regions with respect to their supply chain activities.-The maturity level for each region is assessed using the EPIC framework--Economy, Politics, Infrastructure, and Competence. Managers of supply chains can use this framework and the exclusive data in this practical, timely resource to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the different global regions and determine their supply chain strategies accordingly.

Also issued in print and PDF version.

Description based on cover image and table of contents, viewed on May 19, 2014.