The European Commission has called for research projects that investigate re-use and remanufacturing, in a bid to develop the "factories of the future".

Chronic disruption, a pervasive phenomenon referring to a persistent disruption that degrades but does not inhibit supply chain function and that does not respond to traditional remedies, affects manufacturing most, according to an APICs Supply Chain Council survey.

Global connectedness, measured by cross-border flows of trade, capital, information and people, has recovered most of its losses incurred during the financial crisis, according to the third edition of DHL's Global connectedness Index.

Manufacturers are becoming more diverse in their product mixes and geographic reach. But they haven't necessarily responded with the kind of initiatives that drive total integration across the supply chain, says Ben Yokell, principal for demand planning with Chainalytics.