Manufacturing Supply Chain Challenges - Globalization and IOT

Manufacturing in all sectors has undergone dramatic changes as a result of globalization and the introduction of IOT. Globalization and IOT have brought significant challenges, as well as opportunities to the supply chain of large enterprises (for example Ericson, Alcatel, and HP). There has been an infrastructure change from a single integrated process performed within the boundaries of the traditional corporations to a fragmented and disintegrated process. First outsourcing outside the company boundaries was initiated; second, off-shoring locally or regionally was introduced; third, outsourcing and off shoring went global. Challenges and risk to a large company's supply chain as a result of this transformation increased dramatically. It was readily apparent that a manufacturer, its processes and its supply chain must be fully integrated and interconnected in order to maintain a consistent, high quality, reliable end product. This paper will define the global technology supply chain landscape that large enterprises are operating in today. It will then highlight the impact of IoT (Internet of things) on this supply chain. It is essential to understand the major challenges of supply disruption, regardless of reason, and the increasing risk in the supply chain as a result.