The book critiques the current state of management in American business, arguing that it has shifted from creating real value to prioritizing short-term profitability through financial maneuvers like outsourcing and downsizing. Jack Buffington contends that this approach jeopardizes both corporations and their employees, as well as the broader U.S. economy. He suggests that innovation and productivity improvement have become neglected, proposing that rather than repairing existing management practices, a complete replacement is necessary for sustainable success.
The book explores the detrimental impact of plastics as a pervasive toxin affecting humans, wildlife, and the environment. It highlights the urgent need to address this crisis while introducing innovative solutions that move beyond conventional recycling methods and the complete abandonment of plastic. Through a critical examination of the issues, it aims to inspire actionable change in how society approaches plastic use and waste management.
The book presents a critical examination of current environmental practices, arguing that they often exacerbate ecological issues despite good intentions. It advocates for innovative supply chains that prioritize sustainable design, production, consumption, and reuse of materials, aiming for a balance between economic viability and environmental responsibility.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed long-standing vulnerabilities in the global supply chain, prompting a reevaluation of its role in society. Jack Buffington, a supply chain expert, examines the evolution of this discipline and advocates for transforming it into a community-based value chain. He emphasizes the importance of digital platforms and blockchain technology in revitalizing American communities. Buffington's insights highlight the growing recognition of supply chains as strategic assets, urging a shift towards sustainability and community empowerment for future resilience.
This volume models a 21st century supply chain: one that uses technology that leads to the power of the individual, not larger organizations. Author Jack Buffington explains how in the near future, each of us will be a “prosumer” in a peer-based economy of micro-level manufacturing with little waste and infinite customization. There are two primary schools of thought in regard to the world economy of the future; from one side is a belief that economic growth can continue in perpetuity, driven upon a cheap and plentiful energy supply. From the other point of view is a perspective that economic growth will soon end has due to a lack of cheap and plentiful oil, too much financial debt, and a damaged environment that cannot withstand more growth. Frictionless Markets proposes a third way: a 21st century model based upon an economic calculus that does assume that fossil fuels are rapidly depleting and the environment is being damaged, but does not assume that this means an end to growth, but rather, a beginning of opportunities. Frictionless Markets tells the story of why and how frictionless markets will exist by the year 2030. Dr. Jack Buffington is both a supply chain professional for one of the largest consumer products companies in the world, and a researcher in biotechnology and supply chain at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.
