The book focuses on key emerging areas concerning flexible systems management as an approach for transforming organizations. It is divided into three parts, discussing Enterprise Flexibility and Performance Management; Transformational Strategies and Organizational Competitiveness; and Supply Chain Flexibility. Part I addresses the integration aspects of learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship for organizational success, performance gains through cross-border acquisitions, flexibility measurement, and organizational competitiveness, impact of disinvestment, employability gaps and sustainable growth. Part II then examines risk governance structure, supporting culture, channel collaboration, waste management, IT-based process re-engineering, HR flexibility and adoption of big data as transformational strategies. Lastly, the third part investigates the development of a framework for a green flexible manufacturing system, measuring the effect of supply chain design on firm performance, exploring and ranking logistics service providers' best practices, and exploring the relationship between optimism and career planning in the context of manufacturing sector, and analyzes customers' emotional engagement and their inclinations towards the brand. The concept of flexibility is a common thread running through the three parts. The book is supported by both quantitative- and qualitative-based research as well as case applications relating to different areas of government and profit and not for profit organizations. Written by leading academics and practitioners, it is a useful resource for management students, scholars, consultants and practicing managers in both government and corporate sectors.

This open access book explores supply chains strategies to help companies face challenges such as societal emergency, digitalization, climate changes and scarcity of resources. The book identifies industrial scenarios for the next decade based on the analysis of trends at social, economic, environmental technological and political level, and examines how they may impact on supply chain processes and how to design next generation supply chains to answer these challenges. By mapping enabling technologies for supply chain innovation, the book proposes a roadmap for the full implementation of the supply chain strategies based on the integration of production and logistics processes. Case studies from process industry, discrete manufacturing, distribution and logistics, as well as ICT providers are provided, and policy recommendations are put forward to support companies in this transformative process.

Lack of materials or goods to satisfy customer orders under current market conditions represents an extremely costly and important problem facing businesses today. This is a problem that companies have spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to solve. This book introduces a new theory, 3C, which will solve these problems. The authors, experts from Lucent Technologies, discuss in detail the relationship between the 3Cs - capacity, commonality, and consumption - and how this relationship can revolutionize your business. You will learn how to: reduce overhead expense and improve shipping performance by using the business capacity as the basis for materials planning; reduce investments in inventory by using the commonality of components; obtain dramatic improvements in the lead time of customer orders by using the actual consumption of materials instead of inaccurate sales forecasts as the basis for purchasing. The new and exciting techniques based on 3C generate immediate business benefits, for example: executing the purchasing function with a new criteria and formulae that can eliminate material shortages and significantly improve shipping performance, sales volumes, operating expense and company image. 3C-A Proven Alternative to MRPII for Optimizing Supply Chain Performance gives you the knowledge and practical guidelines to better manage end-to-end Supply Chains and eliminate the expensive and annoying problem of material shortages that most businesses suffer. Features

* Provides clarity to the confusing the field of business enterprise; * Draws on theories, concepts and models from the established business great and good; * Contains international case studies to illustrate and examine globalisation. For the first time in history, more than half of the world's businesses are small, however, the technological revolution has meant that some small firms are "born global" i.e. they operate in multiple markets and/or geographies from the outset. Business enterprises need to move and adapt quickly, in line with competition and changing customer tastes. The challenges they face to succeed are relentless. '''Enterprise and its Business Environment''' offers a clear and insightful introduction to the world of business enterprise and the inner workings of the firm. It explores the role of entrepreneurs, consumers and businesses to understand how their roles affect the production and allocation of good and services and provides a solid base from which those new to the study of business can develop their own interests in relation to the most powerful economic and entrepreneurial forces shaping the world in which we live. '''Enterprise and its Business Environment''' is written and contributed to by a team of expert scholars from Heriot-Watt University, who teach across the globe. This important text: * Brings structure to the field of 'business enterprise' by organizing basic ideas and introducing concepts; * Builds on the established theories and contributions of the great and good in the field of management and organization; * Uses international case studies to examine globalisation and its significance to organisations. To help support their learning, readers have access to a range of online resources including chapter-by-chapter multiple choice questions which will enable them to assess how well they have grasped individual chapters. The text also features a range of supplementary readings, in text exercises and cases/examples to help bring concepts to life. Part of the '''The Global Management Series'''; a complete portfolio of global business and management texts that successfully meets the needs of students on international undergraduate and postgraduate business and management degree courses. Each book is a clear, concise and practical and has a thorough pedagogic structure to suit a 12 week semester. The series offers a flexible 'pick and mix' choice of downloadable e-chapters, so that users can select and build learning materials tailored to their specific needs. See www.goodfellowpublishers.com/GMS for details. Each book in the series is edited and contributed to by a team of experienced academics based in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia it provides an essential learning aid for students across a wide range of business and management courses and an invaluable teaching tool for lecturers and academics. '''Series Editors''': Robert MacIntosh, Professor of Strategy and Kevin O'Gorman, Professor of Management, both at Heriot-Watt University, UK]

Public Private Partnerships are no longer new. They are now a well-established vehicle for delivering large capital projects or managing services. Many organizations are now working with 'multi sector partnerships' across a huge range of sectors involving multiple partners. The increasing complexity of these partnerships, of the risks associated with them and the outcomes required of them, demand a new level of skill from those establishing and building the partnership. Michael Geddes' Making Public Private Partnerships Work offers a highly pragmatic guide to the processes behind multi sector partnerships including the skills of championing and managing the partnership internally, the organizational structure that underpins most successful partnerships, how to resource and staff the partnership, assuring accountability and good governance, and how to manage and communicate the performance of any partnership. He uses case study examples drawn from a whole range of partnerships to compare different practical approaches to each part of the process; against which you may benchmark your own approach and identify best-practice to follow. Making any medium- or long-term partnership work is a challenge for any organization. The different partners bring different skills, expectations and needs to the partnership. Managed well, the diversity of the partners adds to the success of the relationship and the outcome of the partnership, but this is a process that requires careful planning, management and review, all of which is explained in Making Public Private Partnerships Work.

Este libro ofrece una introducci?n clara y completa al "Just-in-Time" y sigue siendo uno de nuestros ?xitos de mayor venta. El texto esta basado en seminarios dictados por Taichi Ohno, creador del Just-in-Time para entrenar a los suplidores de Toyota. La verdad que descubrio el Sr. Ohno, es que la mejora nunca se detiene - un concepto basado en la tradicion samurai en la cual un guerrero (gerente) nunca deja de perfeccionar su estilo (su habilidad de administrar), y nunca deja de pulir su espada (mejorar el proceso y el producto). Al leer este libro, usted vera claramente la magia del sistema Toyota. Los conceptos aqui expuestos se pueden aplicar a fabricaci?n repetitiva, industrias de procesos, a casi todo tipo de empresa de fabricaci?n, e inclusive a oficinas. (Esta edicion incluye material adicional preparado por Yasuhiro Monden, una autoridad en cuanto al sistema de producci?n de Toyota.)

Collaboration in supply chains means managing the chain beyond traditional or transactional methods. It involves rethinking the way your business is managed, both internally and externally, and the ways in which employees and partners relate to each other. Stuart Emmett and Barry Crocker's book explains how a relationship-based approach to supply chain management can transform business; how to organise your business internally for effective supply chain relationships and how to transform your external supply chain using relationship marketing, customer relationship management and supply chain partnerships. One of the key distinguishing characteristics of a high performing supply chain is the presence of strategic trust. With strategic trust, the parties have access to each other's strategic plans; relevant cost information and forecasts are shared; risks and rewards are addressed openly. This book explains how to embed a culture of inter-company trust and to realise the benefits of improved supply chain relationships.

"Kirk Zylstra's focus on the customer is a fresh approach to lean. Companies that can bear the burden of variability will develop a strategic advantage in today's volatile market."
--Travis Jarrell Institute of Industrial Engineers Program Committee Chair

""Lean Distribution" is a comprehensive yet concise work with clear leanings. Kirk's experience across a range of industries brings a unique understanding of common opportunities and solutions available to optimize distribution processes. Lean techniques, typically effective in manufacturing processes, are applied in the downstream supply chain in a practical and productive manner that will offer something to any business distributing tangible goods."
--F. Jeff Duncan Jr. VP, CIO, and Director of Technology Louisiana Pacific Corp.

""Lean Distribution" has robustly captured the revolution occurring in today's increasingly competitive and global supply chain. Eliminating losses through lean manufacturing and lean distribution initiatives will become even more critical enablers to organizations developing cost-advantaged supply chains."
--Rick McDonald Director of Manufacturing The Clorox Company

Supply chain performance will be a key indicator of overall corporate success into the next century. This book, edited by logistics and supply chain expert John Gattorna, and with international contributions, presents unpublished material on next generation thinking about the management of the supply chain. Based on the recently developed strategic alignment model it shows how external market dynamics, the company's strategic response, and internal capability must be aligned if competitive advantage is to be achieved. Supply chain management is a strategic challenge demanding top level management attention. This book tackles the subject at that strategic level to help companies reposition their supply chains successfully. The book then offers the vital link between strategy setting and implementation, providing comprehensive coverage of the main areas of execution, and making it an essential compendium on all aspects of the subject. With case studies from major organizations from around the world, it is a 'must' read for anyone wishing to be at the forefront of international supply chain management thinking. Strategic Supply Chain Alignment brings together for the first time the world's leading logistics professionals, management consultants and academics to offer their insights and experiences on the latest supply chain management techniques. This collection of previously unpublished material offers the reader a unique opportunity to identify the hot issues, discover emerging strategies and uncover key industry and market perspectives. Divided into five sections which reflect the important components of the strategic alignment model, the book covers: The market: Customer value creation and segmentation, and the rationale behind the integration of supply with demand. Strategic response: Considers channel strategy, supply chain configuration and operations and distribution management. Culture: Adopting organization options which focus on delivering.

Despite the pressure for local councils to follow the lead of the private sector and develop shared service and partnership arrangements, the barriers in terms of culture, differences in priorities across councils and lack of experience are formidable - yet this is the most likely source of meeting government targets for reduced overheads and improved organizational effectiveness. By using extensive case studies drawn from across local councils in England, Ray Tomkinson explains the implications of sharing service delivery, addresses concerns about loss of control and accountability, and demonstrates the potential advantages. He shows how to set up collaborative ventures, formal partnerships, shared service centres or special purpose vehicles, while pointing out possible pitfalls, thus enabling senior managers to follow all the necessary project steps to create an appropriate shared service. It seeks to examine the evidence of the cost, effectiveness and quality improvements achieved from sharings. This ground-breaking book has been written for everyone in local government; it explores the political and cultural barriers, and legislative/legal framework for joint workings, explains how to find an appropriate governance vehicle, and how to gain the commitment of partners. It deals with political and managerial concerns, risk aversion and parochial issues, and the possible impact on the reputation and performance of both sharers. Shared Services in Local Government is the only comprehensive study for the UK and it will ensure any public sector organization pursuing this route is able to approach the task of creating a shared service with a real understanding of the issues involved.

This book explains the place of oil in the economic and political predicaments that now confront the West. Thompson explains the problems that the rising cost of oil posed in the years leading up to the 2008 crash, and the difficulties that a volatile oil market now poses to economic recovery under the conditions of high debt, low growth and quantitative easing. The author argues that the 'Gordian knot' created by the economic and political dynamics of supply and demand oil in the present international economy poses a fundamental challenge to the assumption of economic progress embedded in Western democratic expectations.

From one of the world's leading consultants, authors and practitioners in the area of supply chain management comes the most extensive coverage of the subject to date. Bringing more than 18 years of experience in logistics, manufacturing, purchasing, customer service, and supply chain management in a wide variety of industries, William Copacino offers his unique insight and recommendations in Supply Chain Management.
This important book provides an overview of all areas of supply chain management in a concise yet informative style. Any busy executive or manager looking to deepen his or her understanding of supply chain management will find this efficient reading.
Ideal for manufacturers, service companies, suppliers, distributors and retailers in consumer product, electronic, automotive, pharmaceutical and medical product industries. Provides strategies, tools and techniques for both executives and managers in production, purchasing, inventory control, customer service, distribution and accounting. Academicians will find it fits the growing needs of students studying business and especially production/operations management.

Designing Innovations in Industrial Logistics Modelling describes practical methods for approaching the task of designing industrial logistics systems. It surveys the development of logistics models and their application in manufacturing to designing, planning, and implementing the movement of supplies, equipment, and products. This text/reference book discusses the combination of operation and production research to obtain solutions for designing and integrating advanced logistics systems. It provides the reader with a set of prescriptive and descriptive models and methods that have been developed exclusively for the purpose of designing, managing, and optimizing the architecture of such advanced systems. The design and application of new tools and methods is presented in such a way that emphasizes the competitiveness of manufacturing industries, and case studies are presented in a manner that demonstrates successful models and methods in advanced industrial logistics systems. In addition, Designing Innovations in Industrial Logistics Modelling explains the various formal tools and methodologies employed in evaluating new programs and covers program management and dynamic evaluation techniques.

This book analyses the food sector which has economic and political significance for all countries. A highly fragmented and heavily regulated sector, it has become increasingly complex owing to globalisation and geographical decoupling of production and consumption activities. The urban population of the world has grown from 746 million in 1950 to 3.9 billion in 2014 and more than 70% of the population is anticipated to be living in urban areas by 2050. Food supply chains play a vital role in feeding the world's most populous cities, whilst underpinning transportation, storage, distribution, and waste management activities for the sustainability of the urban environment. That is why, this book presents the latest research on food supply chain management with a focus on urbanisation. The contributions involve food distribution in cities, food waste minimisation, and food security with a focus on models and approaches to achieve more sustainable and circular food supply chains.

This title was first published in 2000. This investigation into why aspiring managers chose to study shipping and logistics in the UK uniquely discusses the issues which influenced their academic and career choices. It catalogues the attractions and deterrents to advanced study in an industry needing more highly skilled practitioners. Qualitative, quantitative and mapping approaches to modelling the vocational study decision are reported, along with a unique comparison of students' cognitive maps.

There is more than a touch of 'The Emperor's New Clothes' in the way many organizations approach project management and the consequences are all too clear: project methodology inappropriately applied; little or no consideration of complexity or ambiguity; alienation of the stakeholders and a statistically poor record of performance for major business or infrastructure projects. Charles Smith's groundbreaking book Making Sense of Project Realities offers convincing explanations as to why project management theory and practice have become disconnected and describes the kind of complex, human skills that are required to deliver successful projects. The text draws heavily on the experiences of practising project and programme managers from across private and public sector organizations, many of whose stories were shared and analysed during the two-year research network 'Rethinking Project Management', which brought together thought leaders on project management from consultancy, industry and academia. The result is a highly readable, very credible and imaginative exploration of the nature of projects and programmes that will strike a chord with every project practitioner; a book that offers a realistic set of ideas for developing creative and effective project players, who understand the purpose of what they are doing, the context within which they are working, and the people with whom they need to engage. Update: Several MBA Courses use this book and the tutor feedback is encouragingly positive, including: "can be used from day one to change the mindset of the students concerning projects and their management."

This title was first published in 2001. Purchasing scams are not a high profile topic in the boardroom or indeed in the purchasing department - victims don't like to talk about their experience. They don't want to admit that they were gullible enough to be fooled by a fake invoice or a plausible appeal for a bogus charity. And yet scams cost companies thousands of pounds every year! Purchasing Scams and How to Avoid Them provides a comprehensive and practical guide to avoiding scams in the first place: any initiative in relation to scams must focus on prevention rather than cure. It contains descriptions of all of the most common scams including bogus directories, over-priced office consumables and business consultants who are too good to be true. It also describes how the infamous and ubiquitous Nigeria scam works. Advice is given on how to avoid each and, most importantly, how to establish a purchasing function that will provide effective defences against the perpetrators of such operations.

This book evaluates how and why vertical disintegration has occurred in the global corporate hotel industry, as it undergoes a structural transformation. It provides a unique insight into the new competitive landscape. Underpinned by academic literature, it includes first-hand accounts from the most eminent senior executives of firms in and around the industry. It provides an in-depth perspective of a modern industrial phenomenon and makes observations as to the profitable way forward for the industry. This text is an important read for those working, advising and investing in the sector as well as for students, graduates and researchers.

The control and organisation of the flow of goods in the supply chain is of vital importance to industry and commerce, including manufacturing industrial enterprises, where the timely and efficient delivery of their output at an economic cost is of great concern. This book considers the out-bound supply chain and the associated out-bound logistics ie the flow of goods from the point of production or manufacture to the point of consumption. In doing so, it has to cover a range of management topics and techniques, including measures of performance, order management and forecasting, stock management and management of the supply chain. Written in clear and jargon-free language, this book, whilst intended primarily students of engineering and manufacturing, at 3rd year undergraduate and postgraduate level, would also be of interest to logistics and operations management students. Typical examination questions are included.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a wide field in which several specialties are included. In general, operations and production management players use SCM to organize the problems and analyze the solution approaches. Due to these points, a reference which can encompass a range of problems and their modelling approaches is required. This book will contain three general sections of forward, reverse, intelligent, and uncertain problems. While the book provides different problems in the three commonly used categories in SCM, it is very helpful for the readers to find out, or adapt their own application studies to the ones given in the book and employ the corresponding modeliing approach.

The business case for sustainability and the global imperative to act are now clear, but organizations still struggle with procurement and supply chains as some of the most difficult factors to improve. Sustainable Procurement explains how procurement professionals can expand on existing tools and approaches to make sustainability a reality. It begins by exploring the current landscape and the need for new approaches before moving onto a step-by-step process for sustainable procurement and supply chain CSR, from reviewing goods and services bought to supply chain mapping and implementing new supplier requirements. Guidance is offered on factors such as specification, use of labour and processes, and how to drive improvements further up the supply chain where there is no direct contractual relationship. Written by leading procurement expert and best-selling author, Jonathan O'Brien, this practical guide outlines how to carry out a sustainability audit to define objectives and develop a new strategy. It also explains how to monitor results, the governance required to ensure success and how to be ready for changes in the future. Drive positive change with this roadmap to sustainable procurement and responsible supply chains.

The success of any project relies on the punctual, accurate and cost-effective delivery of materials, systems and facilities. Typically, a major project involves several stakeholders working together with controlled resources to deliver a completed project. It has many suppliers, contractors and customers; it has procurement and supply, demand planning and scheduling; it often lasts several years and has long lead times. Managing Project Supply Chains demonstrates how customised supply chain management can be applied to project management, ensuring project resources are delivered as required, reducing delays and costs and promoting a successful outcome.

Savvy managers no longer look at contracting processes and documents reactively but use them proactively to reach their business goals and minimize their risks. To succeed, these managers need a framework and A Short Guide to Contract Risk provides this. The foundation of identifying and managing contract risk is what the authors call Contract Literacy: a set of skills relevant for all who deal with contracts in their everyday business environment, ranging from general managers and CEOs to sales, procurement and project professionals and risk managers. Contracts play a major role in business success. Contracts govern companies' deals and relationships with their suppliers and customers. They impact future rights, cash flows, costs, earnings, and risks. A company's contract portfolio may be subject to greater losses than anyone realizes. Still the greatest risk in business is not taking any risks. Equipped with the concepts described in this book, business and risk managers can start to see contracts differently and to use them to find and achieve the right balance for business success and problem prevention. What makes this short guide from the authors of the acclaimed Proactive Law for Managers especially valuable, if not unique, is its down-to-earth managerial/legal approach. Using lean contracting, visualization and the tools introduced in this book, managers and lawyers can achieve legally sound contracts that function as managerial tools for well thought-out, realistic risk allocation in business deals and relationships.

Originally taught mainly in business schools, supply chain management has become a common elective and graduate course in engineering colleges. The increasing demand for engineers with supply chain knowledge has fed this shift. However, supply chain management textbooks that have a reasonable coverage of quantitative analysis techniques are few and far between. Concise, straightforward, and easy-to-read, Supply Chain Management for Engineers uses practical problems to introduce key concepts and cultivate students problem-solving skills. Helping students hone their analytical skills and develop the ability to solve real-world problems, the book: Includes a simulation game for practicing supply chain management skills Covers the use of practical software tools including Gurobi Optimizer and Microsoft EXCEL Facilitates the use of problem-based learning (PBL) pedagogy Provides a theoretical framework for supply chain design and supplier selection Focusing on quantitative aspects, this book uses example problems to introduce key concepts and case studies to strengthen students analysis and synthesis skills. In addition to exercises, this book also provides several problems that are relatively complicated and can be used as mini projects that link theoretical concepts to practical problem solving. It also presents a simulation game where students can play the roles of suppliers, OEMs, and retailers within a supply chain environment to practice the skills they acquire. It also stresses the importance of integrating engineering optimization techniques with business strategic thinking. These features and more give students the supply chain knowledge and problem-solving skills increasingly required for engineers entering the work force.

Today, some suppliers have grown increasingly powerful and in certain cases, earn revenues that rival or even exceed that of their automaker clients. In the pre-globalisation period, automakers wielded absolute power over their significantly smaller suppliers. This book reveals the upending of this relationship, with the gradual shift in the balance of power from automakers to their suppliers in this era of globalisation. The book examines how suppliers in the global tyres, seats, constant velocity joints (hereafter 'CVJs'), braking systems and automotive semiconductor industries have evolved into powerful oligopolies through a mix of acquisition and organic growth strategies. It also highlights how joint ventures could be strategically deployed as springboards to acquisition, as they enable firms to familiarise themselves with their partners' markets and operations. Moreover, the book analyses the disruption stirred by the entry of well-resourced technology titans into this industry and their inevitable clash with the traditional incumbents. This book is an invaluable reference for anyone interested in learning more about the automakers' and now their suppliers' relentless quest to create market-dominating intelligent driving systems.