Business Trends for the 21st Century : Global Supply Chains & Contribution of Business Services

From automobiles, electronics, and plastics, to software development or clothing, many goods and services today are provided via global supply chains. Instead of carrying out everything from research and development (R&D) to delivery and retail within a single country, many industries are dividing this process into stages or tasks (or "fragments") that are then undertaken in many countries. Global supply chains have spread widely across both industries and countries. The global restructuring of production has led to faster growth in trade, new patterns of trade, and new benefits from trade. This book examines the evolution, and the effect of global supply chains on the U.S. The book also describes how U.S. manufacturers in the 21st century are taking advantage of services in new and innovative ways to manage global supply chains, cut costs, improve efficiency, and strengthen customer relationships.