A supply chain is never stronger than its weakest link, and that (having a weak link) is perhaps the greatest supply chain risk. Rigid supply chains are particularly weak, unlike flexible supply chains that can bend and adapt to new situations. Flexible supply chains can indeed “flex” their supply chain management muscles (pun intended) and show the strength that lies in them. With transportation being a key ingredient in any supply chain, much of this strength comes from flexibility in transportation, that is flexibility in node, in link and in time, as Mohamed M. Naim, Andrew T. Potter, Robert J. Mason and Nicola Bateman write in their 2006 article on the role of transport flexibility in logistics provision. Adding flexibility reduces supply chain uncertainty and takes away many supply chain risks.

Continue reading →