Supply chains: what they are and the new problems they raise

The term ‘supply chain’ has been, perhaps surprisingly, highly successful since it was proposed. This paper discusses the material and theoretical roots from which the concept arises, as well as its content and implications. It focuses especially on the question of whether the term is useful only to, say, put old wine into new wineskins or responds to a very different reality from that we had a few decades ago. The latter poses new problems, some of which are pointed out, whose resolution requires new theoretical and computational tools. The obvious inadequacy of the term to describe the reality it refers to is emphasised. Some challenges, opportunities and switchpoints for the future of the supply chain are listed as well.