Successful Global Supply Chain Management

Balance cost-efficiency and resilience in global supply chain management

Offset Global Supply Chain Challenges

Unprecedented supply chain disruption has stretched global supply chain management operations in ways few thought they would ever see.

Only 21% of supply chain leaders believe they have a highly resilient supply chain management process today. Increasing resilience in global supply chain management will be a priority for many leaders as they emerge from the current crisis and reset supply chain management strategy to anticipate disruptions as the "new normal" going forward.

Download the Gartner research "14 Tactics to Counteract Supply Instability" to learn how to offset the impact of supply constraints.

Global Supply Chain Management Report

Explore 14 Tactics to Counteract Global Supply Chain Issues

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    Build a Resilient Supply Chain Management Strategy

    For more than 20 years, the goal of global supply chain management strategy was cost efficiency. But disruptions like Brexit, tariff disputes, natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic have elevated the importance of resilience and agility in global supply chain management. In fact, Gartner’s “Weathering the Supply Chain Storm" research identified resilience and agility in the supply chain management strategy as the two main priorities for almost all organizations, with about 90% planning investments to make their supply chain more resilient over the next two years. But there is fear that prioritizing resilience and agility in global supply chain management process will increase operating costs, and so supply chain leaders may be forced to make difficult trade-offs as part of global supply chain management decision making. 
    58% of supply chain leaders believe that resilience results in additional structual costs to the supply chain network.

    Keys to Effective Global Supply Chain Management

    Global supply networks are complex, multitiered and often include highly specialized players in lower tiers that cannot be substituted easily. Visibility into extended supply bases has generally been poor. This is all an obstacle to effective supply chain management process, and creates a global supply chain crisis for the organizations.

    To provide strategic leadership of global supply chain management, the Chief Supply Chain Officer should:

    • Create visibility in critical supply chains.
    • Use scenario planning to assess and address market needs.
    • Increase collaboration with key stakeholders including customers, suppliers, logistics providers and manufacturers.
    • Identify and prioritize key supply chain segments.
    • Prepare for volatility in supply and demand caused by supply chain disruptions.
    How resilient is your supply chain network today? 62% say moderately resilient and 21% say highly resilient.

    Global supply chain management insights
    you can use

    The fast-changing business environment puts new demands on global supply chain management. Gartner knows the key to effective global supply chain management, and provides the practical, data-driven insights you need to balance cost-efficiency with supply chain resilience.

    5 Levers to Optimize Supply Chain Costs

    According to Gartner research, most supply chain management models remain short-term, siloed and functionally oriented. Download the research to learn 5 key levers for end-to-end supply chain cost optimization. 

    Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2023

    The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2023 identifies, celebrates and profiles companies demonstrating excellence in supply chain management amid global supply chain disruption. See who ranked highest for supply chain excellence this year.

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    How Gartner Helps CSCOs Manage Global Supply Chains

    Executive Report

    Untapped Rewards of the Circular Economy

    Read the excerpt of this executive report to learn how to increase raw materials security by championing the circular economy.

    View Research

    Executive Report

    Creating a Non-Traditional Supply Chain

    Download the research to learn two critical capabilities supply chain leaders must harness to create a non-traditional supply chain.

    View Research

    Executive Report

    High Inflation & Recession Risk: Supply Chain Response

    Managing high inflation and recession risk requires the right leadership priorities. Explore the CSCO's 4 supply chain priorities for inflation and recession.

    View Research

    Gartner Supply Chain Globalization Case Studies

    Gartner has been phenomenal helping us move through logistics strategy and operations challenges over the last 4 years. The Gartner model is supporting us in driving efficiencies across all our business units. There is probably around 10% to 15% ROI from using Gartner's ability and support in supply chain. They actually participate in our business to grow a better supply chain.

    VP of Global Supply Chain

    Oil & Energy Industry
    Case Study

    Discover supply chain best practices from your peers

    During this on-demand panel discussion, you’ll hear from supply chain leaders on how they are continuing to lead during times of disruption. 

    Watch “Panel Discussion: Lead Through Times of Disruption in Supply Chain” to hear:

    • Real-life examples of how companies leveraged Gartner insights and tools to navigate disruption
    • Supply chain innovation and agility during times of disruption
    • How to address your most pressing supply chain challenges

    Experience Supply Chain conferences

    Join your peers for the unveiling of the latest insights at Gartner conferences.

    View Conferences

    The Gartner Supply Chain Podcast

    The Gartner Supply Chain Podcast explores the latest ideas and innovations for driving sustainable supply chain success. Join your hosts Thomas O’Connor and Caroline Chumakov as they uncover strategic insights and tactical tips in conversation with global supply chain experts.

    Listen Now

    Global Supply Chain Management FAQs

    Global supply chain management refers to the process of creating and fulfilling the market’s demand for goods and services globally. It is a set of business processes that encompasses a trading partner community engaged in a common goal of satisfying the end customer/consumer. 

    Global supply chain management is needed to improve shareholder and customer value by optimizing the flow of products, services and related information from source to customer/consumer. As the global supply networks are complex, multitiered and often include highly specialized players in lower tiers, global supply chain management becomes a necessity. 

    Although there are innumerous benefits of global supply chain, some of them are listed below:

    1. Lower costs to manufacturers and industries.
    2. New marketplaces and increase in customers.
    3. Businesses expand into international markets.
    4. High volume of inventory.
    5. Greater variety of goods.

    The challenges faced by global supply chain management include supply chain delays, capacity constraints and severe material shortages emerging from the pandemic, hyperinflation, disruptive nationalistic trade policies in many parts of the world and the ramifications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    Global Supply Chain Management Support

    Gartner provides trusted insights and objective advice to help its 2,500+ supply chain leader clients provide strategic leadership of global supply chain management.

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