A supply chain, from an operations perspective, has three components: sourc
ing or procurement, manufacturing and distribution, and inventory disposal.
In each component, the Internet is significantly affecting how supply chai
ns are being managed, leading to new challenges while ultimately promising
to provide value. The likely future is collaborative supply-chain managemen
t that promises to make, for the first time, the dream of virtual integrati
on a reality. Quantitative modeling provides companies decision support as
well as insights for better management of supply chains. But there are stil
l a number of challenges that require further OR/MS analysis.