ABSTRACT
Whatever the forum, the trend is toward a broadened definition of the supply chain. One view holds that the supply chain is all that happens to a product from “dirt to dust.” In this view, the supply chain begins with mining ores or growing crops, extracting raw material from Mother Earth. The chain continues through conversion and distribution processes that deliver the product to the end-user. It also includes the activities required to maintain the product during use. The supply chain ultimately ends with disposal of the product after it is used up — presumably returning to Mother Earth in some form somewhere.
