{"id":93866,"date":"2025-12-15T10:56:38","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T10:56:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apma-association.org\/staging\/?p=93866"},"modified":"2025-12-15T13:51:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T13:51:41","slug":"flow-how-the-best-supply-chains-thrive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apma-association.org\/staging\/flow-how-the-best-supply-chains-thrive\/","title":{"rendered":"Flow: How the Best Supply Chains Thrive"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Rob Handfield Phd<\/a> (Author), Tom Linton<\/a> (Author)<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Flow: Rethinking Supply Chains for a World of Constant Disruption<\/h3>\n

As supply chain disruptions become a regular topic in the media and an
\neveryday reality for businesses and consumers alike, Flow<\/em> offers
\na timely framework for understanding and fixing the delays and bottlenecks
\nthat plague global supply chains.<\/p>\n

Written by Rob Handfield and Tom Linton, the book introduces the concept
\nof flow as a foundational principle for modern supply chain management.
\nDrawing inspiration from the physical world, flow reflects the movement
\nof electricity, materials, and even time itself.<\/p>\n

What Flow Means in Supply Chains<\/h2>\n

In the context of process optimization, flow represents the seamless
\nintegration of end-to-end supply chains. It emphasizes reducing friction,
\neliminating unnecessary delays, and creating systems that move smoothly
\nfrom sourcing to delivery.<\/p>\n

Achieving flow also requires rethinking where supply chains are anchored.
\nThe book highlights the growing importance of nearshoring and onshoring,
\nas organizations reassess the risks of highly fragmented global supply
\nbases in an era of disruption.<\/p>\n

Applying Physics to Global Trade<\/h2>\n

One of the book\u2019s most distinctive contributions is its application of
\nphysical laws to supply chain design. Handfield and Linton explore how
\nprinciples such as momentum, friction, and constraints can explain
\nreal-world supply chain behavior.<\/p>\n

By combining predictive strategies, global event sequencing, and data
\nexchanged through smart technologies, the authors show how companies can
\nanticipate disruption rather than simply react to it.<\/p>\n

Policy, Strategy, and Supply Chain Design<\/h2>\n

Flow<\/em> examines how supply chain physics influence critical business
\nand policy decisions, including tariffs, factory location, outsourcing,
\npandemic response, and the geographic distribution of supply bases.<\/p>\n

These insights help explain why traditional efficiency-focused strategies
\noften fail under stress, and why resilience and adaptability must become
\ncentral design principles.<\/p>\n

Lessons from Real Companies<\/h2>\n

The authors provide concrete recommendations for improving supply chain
\nflows, supported by real-world examples. Case studies from companies such
\nas Biogen, General Motors, Siemens, and Flex illustrate how different
\norganizations responded to the disruptions caused by COVID-19.<\/p>\n

These examples demonstrate how applying flow-based thinking can lead to
\nfaster recovery, greater visibility, and stronger long-term performance.<\/p>\n

Why Flow Matters<\/h2>\n

Flow<\/em> is not only a resource for procurement and supply chain
\nprofessionals. It is a practical guide for any manager concerned with
\nenterprise-level success in an increasingly unpredictable world.<\/p>\n

By reframing supply chains as dynamic systems governed by universal
\nprinciples, the book offers a clear path toward more resilient, responsive,
\nand competitive organizations.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n