The increasing popularity of online shopping makes Internet retailing a megatrend that cannot be ignored. The collaboration of two co-authors bringing academic rigor and broad consulting experience into the mix, Internet Retail Operations: Integrating Theory and Practice for Managers offers enduring insights on operational issues and principles for the management of internet supply chains. Covering a range of emerging issues supported by a variety of case studies, the book details the evolution of information technology's role in retail supply chain networks, its impact on supply chain networks, and how this has changed service operations. It addresses information technology in relation to service and retail industries, then explores how supply chain dynamics impact traditional service and retail delivery, the costs involved, and customer satisfaction and loyalty. It includes tables, vignettes, and graphs that make the content practical and relevant. As you will learn, many attempts at internet retail do not succeed, some because they fail to appreciate the fundamentals, others may have simply been ahead of their time. Many years of experimentation and growth lie ahead. Drawing equally on theory, research results, and real-world experience, the book provides strategies for overcoming the challenges of building operations capability in the evolving world of Internet retailing.

'Joe Thomas is a true renaissance academic who has integrated research, teaching, practice and leadership. He's advised numerous companies through board positions and consulting engagements. His research has identified and focused on real issues in operations management, like overcoming the dark side of worker flexibility and other aspects of the human component of operations. And he has then incorporated research findings into his teaching, including cases on issues like global operations that we can all benefit from. Joe is so admired by his colleagues that they chose him to lead the Johnson School as Dean. Joe is a model and an inspiration for all of us. This book, with its emphasis on cross-functional approaches to inventory management, is an excellent way to honor Joe on his retirement.'Marshall L FisherUniversity of Pennsylvania'Joe Thomas is one of the Grand Masters in our field of operations management. I will always remember him fondly as someone who has accomplished so much, with such a high status in our profession, and yet at the same time, a humble, warm and gentle scholar. In my early student days, I read of Joe's work in multi-echelon inventory systems. He has made deep contributions in manufacturing and distribution network designs and operations management, before the term 'supply chain management' became popular. He is also one of the early scholars in operations management who recognized and promoted the importance of looking at manufacturing and operations as a strategy for a firm. I have learned a great deal from both his writings and from interactions with him face to face. Of course, Joe has also been serving our community as an editor and through professional society leadership. I had first-hand experience from his editorship directly, since he processed some of the papers that I published. That experience also taught me how to have high standards, be encouraging, and be generous in giving advice and inputs in the editorial process. As a junior researcher at the time, such editorial support was both helpful and served as a great model. As a senior colleague, Joe has always treated me as a friend, making me feel comfortable and easy to exchange with him. Over the years, many of our colleagues have benefited tremendously from his mentorship and support. While he is a very serious researcher and holds very high standards in his work, Joe's personality radiates warmth and energy to those around him. And then he adds humor at the right time. I will never forget when Joe led all of us at a conference honoring the retirement of El Buffa to sing a song with lyrics that he composed himself, titled 'Just-in-Time.' The lyrics contained lessons in a very funny way. Joe is a pioneer in research (as well as in teaching and practice) that connected inventory management to other business functions such as human resources, marketing, finance and accounting. Thus, with its emphasis on cross-functional inventory research, this book is an excellent way to honor him on his retirement. It is a privilege for us to recognize and celebrate with him all he has done for our profession!' Hau L LeeStanford UniversityCross-Functional Inventory Research details path-breaking analytical, empirical and behavioral operations management research that interfaces inventory with the business functions of human resources, finance, accounting, information technology, and globalization.For about fifty years, inventory research was conducted with a silo mentality with assumptions of exogenous pricing, price-independent demand distribution, rational human decision making, and lack of information sharing. Over the past few years, there is increased realization that this kind of analysis and thinking will not be useful for the modern business world. This has motivated inventory researchers to reach across different business functional areas such as finance, marketing, human capital and information technology and identify research questions that are more appropriate for the modern, complex, data-driven business environments. Cross-Functional Inventory Research contains path-breaking research developments in cross-functional inventory research. The methodologies applied to answer these research questions cover the complete gamut of empirical, analytical, and behavioral approaches.

This book addresses the main challenges affecting modern logistics and supply chains and is organized according to five main themes: supply chain strategy and management, information and communication technology (ICT) for logistics and related business models, vertical and horizontal collaboration, intelligent hubs (e.g. ports and cities) and policy for sustainable logistics. The key findings presented are based on both extensive research and on business cases. The book examines logistics from a comprehensive viewpoint embracing the entire supply chain. The overarching advanced logistics and supply chain concept at the heart of this book endeavors to contribute to a sustainable intelligent transport system by making it more efficient, cost-effective, safe, reliable and competitive. Specifically, the book focuses on the need for a variety of supply chain, logistics and transport options, on the potential offered by technological developments, infrastructural and organizational aspects, information flows, the financial and legal domain, harmonization and the complexity of implementation. In closing, the book presents new approaches to the coordination of sound business and governance models.

A fail-safe supply network is designed to mitigate the impact of variations and disruptions on people and corporations. This is achieved by (1) developing a network structure to mitigate the impact of disruptions that distort the network structure and (2) planning flow through the network to neutralize the effects of variations. In this monograph, we propose a framework, develop mathematical models and provide examples of fail-safe supply network design. We show that, contrary to current thinking as embodied in the supply network literature, disruption management decisions made at the strategic network design level are not independent from variation management decisions made at the operational level. Accordingly, we suggest that it is beneficial to manage disruptions and variations concurrently in supply networks. This is achieved by architecting fail-safe supply networks, which are characterized by the following elements: reliability, robustness, flexibility, structural controllability, and resilience. Organizations can use the framework presented in this monograph to manage variations and disruptions. Managers can select the best operational management strategies for their supply networks considering variations in supply and demand, and identify the best network restoration strategies including facility fortification, backup inventory, flexible production capacity, flexible inventory, and transportation route reconfiguration. The framework is generalizable to other complex engineered networks.

This book sets out to explain blockchain for the non-technical expert, to decipher the dense technicalities that dominate the field and to present the opportunities for busy professionals using practical applications and case studies. Presented in a clear and structured way and with documented real-world cases, the book is a practical reference guide that can be used across different industries. It offers both a constructive and critical review of the pain points blockchain is facing today, illustrates the pitfalls as well as the opportunities for business and describes the steps towards overcoming them. It also aims to provide a unique view of both the intersection and synergy of blockchain with other emerging technologies and the wider digital ecosystem, as we see increasingly that blockchain alone won't be able to deliver business solutions. Most important, the book identifies trends and a path for the future of blockchain and its impact on society as a whole. The book is written for business audiences across all sectors. It is not a technical guide to blockchain, but it enables businesspeople to be better informed and prepared to plan ahead and develop strategies using blockchain.

This fully updated new edition of a respected text retains the original's comprehensive and practical approach to food supply chain management, and introduces a global perspective and a wide range of new material. More than ever, this is the food supply chain management textbook. With an introduction that speaks to academic and non-academic audiences alike, the second edition of Food Supply Chain Management covers all-new topics such as cold chain management, "last mile" logistics, blockchain and traceability in the food supply chain, and the implications of global trade and climate change. Case studies examine the farm-to-table movement, sustainable co-ops, and more, with "quick facts" and mini-cases that are engaging and thought-provoking. This textbook is appropriate for upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate students of agricultural business, natural resources, and food science, as well as supply chain management students. Supporting online materials include lecture slides, test banks, and instructor manuals.

One of the newest and fastest growing corporate positions is that of global trade compliance manager. This position used to be an insignificant factor in most corporations, but the events surrounding 9/11 changed that forever. Compliance became a household word in businesses involved in importing and exporting. Unfortunately, when corporations begin setting up initiatives to become compliant, they often have to seek the support of outside counsel, consultants, and specialists, because there is no single resource that allows them to accomplish this work independently. Rising above the myriad diverse resources for the compliance manager, Compliance in Today's Global Supply Chain is the definitive compilation and one-step "go to" resource for the executive engaged in global supply chains seeking compliance with government regulations. It provides a step-by-step blueprint for developing a compliance program and making it cost-effective within a corporation's supply chain operation. Offering the perspective of one the nation's most respected and informed experts on global supply chains, it defines emerging regulations that impact global trade. Emphasizing the importance of training programs and continuing education, it also shows how to educate senior management to ensure and maintain success and includes a list of resources to keep up with the changing import/export landscape. Providing the company and the manager responsible for supply chain compliance with the necessary tools to initiate all the steps to secure a corporate compliance program in their global supply chain, Compliance in Today's Global Supply Chain is destined to be the "resident bible" for current and future managers of global supply chains.

Destination marketing is more challenging than other goods and services. The basis of competitive advantage shifts from tourism resources only (destination marketing) to a location-based or city-wide integrated management (place marketing). In this book, tourism scholars Metin Kozak and Seyhmus Baloglu discuss and synthesize theories, models, techniques, and principles for strategic marketing and management of tourist destinations, and demonstrate ways in which to further develop the concept of destination competitiveness for application within these destinations. The authors highlight the need for managing brand equity, tourist experience, and information systems, as well as involving internal and external stakeholders in strategic planning and implementation.

This book offers practical information directly related to the tourism industry, using the examples of real-world cases to bridge marketing theory with practice. With its international focus and applications for developing a competitive advantage in today's global marketplace, this research will be indispensable to students and scholars of tourism, hospitality, and leisure and recreation programs, as well as practitioners within these industries.

In the global marketplace, no business is a self-contained island. No matter how effective your internal material movement, to be a future-thinking business, you must go to the next step and develop long-term supplier partnerships built on a dedication to continuous improvement and the basic concepts of Lean implementation.

Lean Supplier Development: Establishing Partnerships and True Costs Throughout the Supply Chain provides step-by-step instruction on how to build partnerships of mutual improvement and success through supplier development. Offering the same advice that they have successfully applied to corporations across the globe, award-winning consultants Chris Harris, Rick Harris, and Chuck Streeter -

• Provide criteria on how to choose suppliers that will make good long-term partnerships
• Demonstrate proven methods for employing Plan for Every Part (PFEP) to link your facility to the supply base
• Present a true cost model that eliminates guesswork when choosing suppliers to develop
• Show how to develop and maintain efficient information flow all along your supply chain
• Use real-world examples to cover likely contingencies
• Provide a sample quarterly supplier review that you can adapt for your own use

Lean is a journey, not a destination. It requires flexible leaders at the helm who can readily adjust to ever-changing conditions and it requires like-minded partners all along the supply chain. Finding and developing these partners is not about good fortune, it is all about an uncompromising approach to continuous improvement and the application of systematic methods that will build working partnerships that broaden your definition of what is possible

Increasingly, top executives view supply markets as sources of competitive advantage and as means of achieving strategic objectives. Procurement is the management activity that makes this happen, and this process depends on a superior risk management capability if it is be effective. Yet, despite its importance, Procurement Risk Management is surprisingly under-developed. Recent Global Risk surveys have pinpointed Supply Chain Vulnerability as one of the four key global risks for the next decade. What is less well known is that this is only half of the story ... risk exposures also exist inside the company and can be just as damaging. No company is an island; it needs suppliers as well as customers. Conventional wisdom puts great emphasis on managing certain aspects of business such as customers; operations; strategy and finances. Typically, however, much less regard is paid to external suppliers and the risks present in dealing with them. As a minimum, suppliers are the sources of materials, services and expert attention which enable the company to feed its business model. When done well, a risk-aware procurement process provides the bonus of competitive advantage, with the ability to capitalise, on the occurrence of unexpected events. This short guide explains just how to do it. Each chapter explores the topic in hand, outlines the risks and the remedies available and offers guidance on the principles and risk prevention.

Features emerging trends that are shaping supply chain operations worldwide as well as impacting the global business landscape

Beginning with the assertion that supply chains are an overlooked factor behind anemic economic growth, "Protean Supply Chains: Ten Dynamics of Supply and Demand Alignment" provides a comprehensive overview of the developments occurring in the field of supply chain management. A broad range of topics in facility location, inventory, strategic sourcing, and supply chain coordination are addressed in addition to coverage of major developments within the field. The author's main position is that supply chains must be more than agile or flexible; rather, they must become protean and capable of changing shape in response to a volatile global business landscape.

The author, a well-known editor and researcher in the field, presents current real-world examples combined with insights into the impact of recent trends that are expected to affect the global business landscape over the next decade. Highlighting companies with leading-edge supply chains as examples, the book discusses methods to reduce spending, increase revenues, and achieve streamlined productivity in a changing economic climate. The book utilizes further examples from the growth of online retailing and automation in distribution centers, as well as the use of protean supply chains to gain competitive advantages internationally. In addition, the book features the following ten emerging trends, which are shaping supply chain operations worldwide: The rise of regional theatres of supplyGlobal risk management through control towersCustomer segmentationReal demand realization Omniichannel retailing challengesDemand swing alignment with production and distributionCustomer of one serviceSustainability challengesCollaboration vs. competition in the new economyFinancial dynamism

The book is an ideal reference for professionals and practitioners in operations research, business/management science, applied mathematics, and industrial engineering as well as an appropriate supplement for undergraduate and graduate-level courses in supply chain management.

In a company ecosystem the supply chain manager is tasked with duties and objectives primarily aimed at controlling and reducing costs, while optimizing the material flows. Yet, in many organizations, common perception limits supply chain management to product logistics, materials handling and warehouse management. The supply chain manager must learn how to communicate the results of his work to show the importance and impact supply chain management operations have on a company. In this book, Enrico Camerinelli provides the supply chain manager and the chief financial officer with the means to link the value of the supply chain to an organization's bottom line. He explores the problem with current supply chain metrics, shows how to close the gap between financial decisions and supply chain performance, suggests a model to provide a lingua franca for supply chain, financial and other managers throughout the company and points to ways in which new technology can help measure the value of the supply chain. Using case studies and interviews with supply chain and financial experts, Measuring the Value of the Supply Chain will help financial and supply chain managers achieve strategic advantage through effective supply chain management.

Industrial revolutions have impacted both, manufacturing and service. From the steam engine to digital automated production, the industrial revolutions have conduced significant changes in operations and supply chain management (SCM) processes. Swift changes in manufacturing and service systems have led to phenomenal improvements in productivity. The fast-paced environment brings new challenges and opportunities for the companies that are associated with the adaptation to the new concepts such as Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber Physical Systems, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, cyber security, data analytics, block chain and cloud technology. These emerging technologies facilitated and expedited the birth of Logistics 4.0. Industrial Revolution 4.0 initiatives in SCM has attracted stakeholders' attentions due to it is ability to empower using a set of technologies together that helps to execute more efficient production and distribution systems. This initiative has been called Logistics 4.0 of the fourth Industrial Revolution in SCM due to its high potential. Connecting entities, machines, physical items and enterprise resources to each other by using sensors, devices and the internet along the supply chains are the main attributes of Logistics 4.0. IoT enables customers to make more suitable and valuable decisions due to the data-driven structure of the Industry 4.0 paradigm. Besides that, the system's ability of gathering and analyzing information about the environment at any given time and adapting itself to the rapid changes add significant value to the SCM processes. In this peer-reviewed book, experts from all over the world, in the field present a conceptual framework for Logistics 4.0 and provide examples for usage of Industry 4.0 tools in SCM. This book is a work that will be beneficial for both practitioners and students and academicians, as it covers the theoretical framework, on the one hand, and includes examples of practice and real world.

Fundamentals of Supply Chain Theory presents the methodology and foundations of supply chain management and also demonstrates how recent developments build upon classic models. The authors focus on strategic and tactical aspects of supply chain management and cover a broad range of topics from forecasting, inventory management, and facility location to process flexibility, contracting, and auctions. Key mathematical models for optimizing the design, operation, and evaluation of supply chains are presented as well as models currently emerging from the research frontier. The Second Edition contains five new chapters on extensions of facility location models; transportation routing; transportation flow; integrated supply chain models; and application of supply chain theory. New sections have also been added throughout on topics including error measures for estimating forecast accuracy, the Economic Production Quantity (EPQ) model, deterministic multi-echelon models, general network design models, deterministic and stochastic models for capacity planning and expansion, and Fundamental Auction Theory. Plentiful teaching supplements are available including an Instructor's Manual and PowerPoint slides as well as MATLAB programming assignments that require students to code algorithms in an effort to provide a deeper understanding of the material. The MATLAB assignments can be modified for other computational programming environments. Instructional videos (TBD) are also available via the book's related website that focus on introductory material, such as basic forecasting methods, basic inventory models, and fundamental optimization methods.

Hotter temperatures, less arctic ice, loss of habitat-every other day, it seems, global warming and environmental issues make headlines. Consumer-driven environmental awareness combined with stricter recycling regulations have put the pressure on companies to produce and dispose of products in an environmentally responsible manner. Redefining industrial ecology, while reconsidering the original definition, Environment-Conscious Manufacturing explores topics such as industrial metabolism, product design for the environment, design of reverse and closed-loop supply chains, and disassembly modeling, using case studies to support the discussion. After introducing basic concepts and the historical roots of environment conscious manufacturing (ECM), the text covers algorithms and heuristics; design for disassembly; the environment, recycling, and remanufacturing; disassembly process planning and scheduling; environmental impact assessment models; lifecycle assessment; logistic aspects; product reuse and recovery; and sustainable products. The chapter contributors discuss the selection of economical products, collection centers, recovery facilities, production facilities, second-hand markets and new products, the optimal transportation of goods, and the evaluation of a marketing strategy and futurity of used products. The book ends with an overview of the barriers to ECM and explores how to use integrative structural modeling to investigate, analyze, and overcome them. "Environmentally friendly" has evolved from reluctant compliance with required regulations to a mechanism for gaining the competitive advantage and an important part of strategic management. Expected benefits of this paradigm shift include safer and cleaner facilities, lower future costs for disposal and worker protection, reduced environmental and health risks, and improved product quality at lower cost and higher productivity. Describing the basic elements of ECM, this book gives you the tool

A definitive roadmap for implementing effective supply chain management

Strategic sourcing redefines the traditional approach to buying and using materials and services. Purchasing and supplier programs are receiving substantial attention in current professional literature, but there is little information on implementing supplier strategies and techniques.

Harnessing Value in the Supply Chain offers a specific, step-by-step approach to the strategic sourcing process, developed by the author at Southern California Edison. This unique reference provides expert guidance on designing, launching, executing, evaluating, and maintaining a sourcing project. It includes illustrations, examples, and templates for immediate use. Finally, supply chain management and strategic sourcing are presented in a usable, comprehensive, and cost-effective framework.

To illustrate this approach, the book describes the experience of Southern California Edison, a utility company that achieved $150 million in annual cost reduction through a strategic sourcing program. The story is told from the perspective of the people who led the revolutionary change at SCE, as wellas the suppliers. A detailed method on how to duplicate SCE's success is included in the book.

This book is unique in that it fully traces a strategic sourcing initiative from conception to implementation—and it is the only book that documents the SCE story. Harnessing Value in the Supply Chain is a powerful tool that will help organizations optimize their resources and develop relationships to sustain effective supply chain management.

Knowledge management has been widely applied to various industries as a good strategy to help improve firms' performance. As globalisation accelerates and international trade increases more and more, maritime transport operations have become one of the vitalest industries to receive large attention from international managers. This is because the managers have perceived that the maritime transport system is an integrated entity within the global logistics and supply chain, and it should be therefore managed in the most efficient and effective ways possible, as an organic body within a global logistics system. Taking this approach, this book examines how maritime transport operators - such as shipping companies, port terminal operators and freight forwarders - could successfully play a role within the global logistics flow wherein they are embedded by improving their logistic value, i.e. maritime logistics value. As per the objective, the current book suggests a knowledge management based solution. It attempts to systematically investigate what types of knowledge are needed in the maritime logistics industry, how maritime operators could effectively acquire the knowledge, and whether the acquired knowledge would help maritime operators enhance maritime logistics value. This book provides not only comprehensive understandings of knowledge management strategy, but also its practical application to the maritime logistics industry. This would therefore be a useful guidebook for the managers, academics, and undergraduate / postgraduate students in the field of maritime transport and global logistics, to help them to gain comprehensive knowledge of the application of knowledge management strategy to the industry.

This new volume in the "Advances in Management Information Systems" series presents the latest cutting-edge knowledge in IT outsourcing. As part of the growing business trend to outsourcing various operations, IT outsourcing both determines the governance of a vital organizational function and influences the processes of exploitation and exploration in all other functions of an enterprise. In keeping with the mission of the "AMIS" series, the editors of this volume have framed the domain of research and practice broadly. "Information Technology Outsourcing" provides leading edge research on both the variety of decisions regarding the outsourcing of IS services and the management of the relationship with service suppliers.

Mistakes occur for many reasons. This book takes a hands-on approach to the reasons mistakes happen, analyzes the actual mistakes, and develops a strategy to reduce them. This book proposes error reduction strategies in human decision making and educates the reader to further reduce the likelihood of making a mistake. It provides error reduction strategies, describes various cost-effective methods for eliminating costly errors, and discusses Anthropometry, Crew Resource Management, Human Factors, Industrial Engineering, Scientific Management, and Usability and the role these topics play in the avoidance of mistakes. This book will be of interest to professionals and students in the areas of industrial engineering, human factors, logistics, quality control, manufacturing, human resources, and safety.

Understanding inventory-its costs, its place in the supply chain, and what is considered its optimal level-is important to an organization's profitability. Demonstrating how each link in the supply chain plays an integral role in the success of the whole, Rightsizing Inventory examines inventory throughout the entire internal and external supply chain.

The book covers every aspect of inventory. Each chapter defines roles and responsibilities, identifies methods to improve collaboration, and presents the tools, techniques, and methodologies for each link.The book includes150 TIPS on "How to Rightsize Inventory," and examines the areas of finance, accounting, sales, marketing, planning, purchasing, manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, distribution, facilities management, human resources, information technology, product engineering, process engineering, field service, quality, and the external customer.

Providing a complete overview on inventory and its place in the supply chain, Rightsizing Inventory is an important resource for those involved in making that supply chain run smoothly and profitably.

Fashion buying and merchandising has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Aspects such as the advent of new technologies and the changing nature of the industry into one that is faster paced than ever before, as well as the shift towards more ethical and sustainable practices have resulted in a dramatic change of the roles. As a result, contemporary fast fashion retailers do not follow the traditional buying cycle processes step by step, critical paths are wildly different, and there has been a huge increase in 'in-season buying' as a response to heightened consumer demand. This textbook is a comprehensive guide to 21st-century fashion buying and merchandising, considering fast fashion, sustainability, ethical issues, omnichannel retailing, and computer-aided design. It presents an up-to-date buying cycle that reflects key aspects of fashion buying and merchandising, as well as in-depth explanations of fashion product development, trend translation, and sourcing. It applies theoretical and strategic business models to buying and merchandising that have traditionally been used in marketing and management. This book is ideal for all fashion buying and merchandising students, specifically second- and final-year undergraduate as well as MA/MSc fashion students. It will also be useful to academics and practitioners who wish to gain a greater understanding of the industry today.

Giving organizations the ability to track, secure, and manage items from the time they are raw materials through the life-cycle of the product, radio frequency identification (RFID) makes internal processes more efficient and improves overall supply chain responsiveness. Helping you bring your organization into the future, RFID in the Supply Chain: A Guide to Selection and Implementation explains RFID technology, its applications in SCM, data storage and retrieval, business processes, operational and implementation problems, risks, security and privacy, facility layout, handling systems and methods, and transportation costs. In short, with its soup-to-nuts coverage, the book ensures that your RFID implementation is successful and that you get the most from your investment.

The book discusses the major paradigm shift in product traceability that began with transitioning to RFID technology from bar code technology. It examines the economic feasibility of rolling out RFID and the challenges in supply chain synchronization, customer privacy, security, operations and IT, logistics, program management, education and training, and implementation, as well as what lessons have been learned. The author addresses the RFID business processes needed to analyze and resolve problems the suppliers face when they deal with multiple customers, each with a different mandate, and with their own set of suppliers.

Going beyond the technology and how it has changed supply chain processes, the book includes selection guidelines and implementation examples, such as speed of tag reads versus quality of computer inputs and optimal tag location. The author discusses the implementation of a business processmodel and the separate but equal concerns that business and IT executives have about the implementation of RFID applications. The book also covers security, integrated control management linked to the corporate strategy, and laws and regulations.

ERP Systems for Manufacturing Supply Chains: Applications, Configuration, and Performance provides insight into the core architecture, modules, and process support of ERP systems used in a manufacturing supply chain. This book explains the building blocks of an ERP system and how they can be used to increase performance of manufacturing supply chains. Starting with an overview of basic concepts of supply chain and ERP systems, the book delves into the core ERP modules that support manufacturing facilities and organizations. It examines each module's structure and functionality as well as the process support the module provides. Cases illustrate how the modules can be applied in manufacturing environments. Also covered is how the ERP modules can be configured to support manufacturing supply chains. Setting up an ERP system to support the supply chain within single manufacturing facility provides insight into how an ERP system is used in the smallest of manufacturing enterprises, as well as lays the foundation for ERP systems in manufacturing organizations. The book then supplies strategies for larger manufacturing enterprises and discusses how ERP systems can be used to support a complete manufacturing supply chain across different facilities and companies. The ERP systems on the market today tend to use common terminology and naming for describing specific functions and data units in the software. However, there are differences among packages. The book discusses various data and functionalities found in different ERP-software packages and uses generic and descriptive terms as often as possible to make these valid for as many ERP systems as possible. Filled with insight into ERP system's core modules and functions, this book shows how ERP systems can be applied to support a supply chain in the smallest of manufacturing organizations that only consist of a single manufacturing facility, as well as large enterprises where the manufacturing supply chain crosses multiple facilities and companies.

Organizations in the construction industry struggle with three key issues: quality management or better meeting customer expectations, supply chain management or more effectively working with suppliers to provide a seamless service to customers, and knowledge management, the challenge of learning between collaborating organisations and between people working on similar projects around the world. Excellence in these key aspects of business is the hallmark of great companies.

This book tackles each of these themes, demonstrating their significance as strategic concepts for the construction sector and illustrating how development goals in each of the areas can be met. To be successful Total Quality has to impact on the organisation's Performance, which should be measured on a "balanced scorecard," including the results from the customer. This can be achieved through good Planning and improvements in Processes through involvement of the People. These 4Ps combine with the 4Cs - Customer, Culture, Communication and Commitment to provide a model for implementing total quality into construction.
The book brings together, within this consistent theoretical framework, international case studies from all areas of the construction industry. These include examples as diverse as quarrying, construction, design, real estate, land development and regulatory agencies, drawn from the UK, USA, Hong Kong, Singapore Australia and Japan. Through these the authors demonstrate how a total quality or business excellence strategy can be applied in all activities in the construction supply chain to achieve world-class performance.
Written by two of the world's leading experts, in a logical and verypractical style, Total Quality in the Construction Supply Chain offers students and others new to the subject a clearly structured introduction to the concept of quality in the industry, while offering help and guidance to the most experienced professionals. The book should also appeal to people from all areas of the building and construction sector in any country.
* Key management techniques applied specifically to the needs of the construction industry
* International case studies demonstrate how to achieve real and lasting improvements in quality across the industry