The global supply chain is embarking upon a new era of challenges and opportunities. Environmental protection, energy availability, and dramatic population increases are placing unprecedented pressure on the abilities of worldwide supply chains to efficiently and effectively provide goods and services. However, modern supply chains and the supply chain of the future also have unprecedented access to technology, particularly communication technology, enabling real-time connectivity to virtually anyone on earth. This paper describes the challenges and opportunities facing the supply chain of the future and describes the various effects these issues have on supply chain design, management, and integration.