Supply chain management simply isn't good enough anymore. Today, you must have a combination of strong executive leadership, careful process redesign and demand-driven supply networks.

IBM at one point had 30 supply chains, one for each of its business units, with each considered a necessary cost of doing business. Today the Integrated Supply Chain at IBM is an innovative, strategic business unit that delivers significant cost savings, competitive advantage and enterprise alignment.

The high-tech giant's buy-sell program ensures the best price and highest quality of parts, even though someone else is making the finished goods.

Mercy ROi's bold supply chain initiatives are changing traditional distribution models in the healthcare industry. Even more importantly, they mitigate the nation's 8th largest cause of death.