The managed flow of goods and information from raw materials to final sale, also known as a "supply chain, " affects everything -- from the U.S. gross domestic product to where you buy your jeans. The nature of a company's supply chain has a significant effect on its success or failure. Changes in product design, manufacture, and delivery are occurring radically and globally, making the action steps for small and medium-sized manufacturers -- the "seed corn" of business start-up and development -- especially useful.