This book reconciles two divergent worlds for the beleaguered quality manager. The first is that of quality and managerial fads, promoted by quality professionals and the quality 'industry' - with its seminars, certification programs and the pressures of an ever increasing number of international standards, state and national legislation and powerful corporations. The second is a virtual antithesis to this world of mission statements, quality policies, procedures and statistical techniques, and is embodied in the international phenomenon that is the Dilbert (TM) cartoon strip. Across America and Europe millions of ordinary employees revel in the truths that are exposed concerning corporate absurdities and a blind reliance upon acronym-laden quick-fixes.
Here you will find the gap bridged between the vast literature of quality fads (including the recent tranche of international standards) and that more humorous portrayal of these worlds. The origins of today's quality ideology and industry is traced, followed by a description of how the quality profession popularizes, promotes and ultimately benefits from the fads that come and go. Finally it is shown that despite the propaganda of the profession, there is a separate reality to "quality" and that management principles in this field can only ever be a small limiting factor in corporate success.
Addresses a vital aspect of Supply-chain Management, one of todays hottest management topics
From a widely and internationally published quality author and professional
The "Emperors Clothes" for the Quality profession

This book emphasizes three key messages:
Value: While the traditional approaches to supply chain management have favoured cost minimalization, the authors believe that SCM is a value enabler with strategic decisions in supply chain design leading to value creation and tactical decisions in supply chain coordination leading to value capture.
Alignment: While trust-based collaborative practices are the ultimate goal, adequate economic incentives should be designed to ensure the much needed alignment.
Sustainability: Supply chain design should be viewed as a dynamic process rather than a set of activities held together by low transaction costs.

In a context of global competition, the optimization of logistics systems is inescapable. Logistics Systems: Design and Optimization falls within this perspective and presents twelve chapters that well illustrate the variety and the complexity of logistics activities. Each chapter is written by recognized researchers who have been commissioned to survey a specific topic or emerging area of logistics. The first chapter, by Riopel, Langevin, and Campbell, develops a framework for the entire book. It classifies logistics decisions and highlights the relevant linkages to logistics decisions. The intricacy of these linkages demonstrates how thoroughly the decisions are interrelated and underscores the complexity of managing logistics activities. Each of the chapters focus on quantitative methods for the design and optimization of logistics systems.

This insightful research review discusses some of the most influential papers in the economics field of global value chains. Focusing on globalization, fragmentation and coordination of production across geographical as well as enterprise boundaries. It pays particularly close attention to how businesses in developing countries are incorporated into global production and distribution networks. The review analyses many of the texts that framed the global value chain approach together with in-depth case-studies of particular sectors and policy-oriented research concerned with reducing poverty and accelerating growth in poorer countries. This review would be of great interest to students and researchers working in the fields of globalisation, geography and international business.

The leading academic authorities contributing to this book have been involved in major studies carried out for international organisations, individual governments, and national trades' union organisations; in Vulnerable Workers they consider the growth of job insecurity, the prevalence of flexible or temporary work, and the emergence of precarious forms of self-employment. They look at the new market economies of post-communist Eastern Europe and China, where economic development may occur at the expense of workers' lives and health; 'misclassification' by employers of workers as 'contractors', denying them access to rights; and the plight of migrant, transient and 'invisible' workers. The impact of supply chain business strategies on the most vulnerable workers; and on the complex relationships between levels of job security and the presence of different kinds of risks are similarly assessed. The contributors also propose responses to the challenges they highlight. The role of employee representatives is examined, together with the potential to enhance worker capability through organisational change. New legislative approaches, and changes to traditional compensation and social security systems are considered. Academics and researchers, policy makers, regulators, trades unionists and occupational health professionals - and wise employers - will all find a use for this book.

The e-business environment has brought about a new kind of competition. Instead of the traditional mode of firms competing against firms, we now have supply chains competing against supply chains. ""Supply Chain Management: Issues in the New Era of Collaboration and Competition"" examines this new business landscape in background, touching on major issues of the supply chain, and readers the assets to obtain that important competitive advantage. ""Supply Chain Management: Issues in the New Era of Collaboration and Competition"" contributes to this interesting global phenomenon by collecting well-researched works that illuminate in SCM issues in the e-business environment.

Business practices are constantly evolving in order to meet growing customer demands. By implementing fresh procedures through the use of new technologies, organizations are able to remain competitive and meet the expectations of their customers. Designing and Implementing Global Supply Chain Management examines how various organizations have re-engineered their business processes in an effort to accommodate new innovations and remain relevant in a highly competitive global marketplace. Highlighting the creation of integrated supply chains and the emergence of virtual business communities, this publication is an appropriate reference source for students, researchers, and practitioners interested in trending approaches to external business functions used to efficiently respond to growing customer demands.

The Management of Transshipment Terminals: Decision Support for Terminal Operations in Finished Vehicle Supply Chains is a unique treatment of the transshipment operation and processes on the shipment of automobiles from the Bremerhaven harbor, Germany. It is an analytical, theoretical, and practical work that incorporates Network Optimization, Logistics, Distribution, Transportation, and Supply Chain Management into a framework of Information Systems for a comprehensive understanding of the development of transshipment terminals in the global economy. More specifically, the book examines the function of transshipment terminals and how they can be made more effective and efficient. In sum, the book is a novel treatment of a developing area in the global supply chain economy; and as such, it is an illustrated example of the manifestation of elements within the field of Operations Management on the increasing integration of the transportation logistic system.

The rapid advancement of technology and of Internet commerce in a globalized market has brought change at an unprecedented rate. This book focuses on the most significant developments taking place in the market, their impact on the accounting and finance function, the new efficient logistics solutions, and how new technology effects commerce. Based on an extensive research project in the US, Britain, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, and Sweden, The Internet Supply Chain explains what can be expected in business opportunities and in cost savings from selling and purchasing through the internet. The author goes on to suggest how accounting and logistics will need to be restructured to cope with, and make the most of the challenges and benefits presented by the Internet supply chain.

For undergraduate or MBA courses in Supply Chain Management. This text takes a strategic, managerial, and cross-functional view of supply chain management, enabling managers to participate in the vision and implementation of world-class supply chain networks. To achieve this, the book introduces a Supply Chain Roadmap process model as a guiding framework for designing and implementing integrated supply chains. Students gain the knowledge and analytical tools to perform analysis and act as change agents within their organizations.

Authored by a team of experts, the new edition of this bestseller presents practical techniques for managing inventory and production throughout supply chains. It covers the current context of inventory and production management, replenishment systems for managing individual inventories within a firm, managing inventory in multiple locations and firms, and production management. The book presents sophisticated concepts and solutions with an eye towards today's economy of global demand, cost-saving, and rapid cycles. It explains how to decrease working capital and how to deal with coordinating chains across boundaries.

The physical distribution of products is an important element in the marketing operations of all productive enterprises, and in many cases efficient distribution is the most important single factor leading to success. With the emergence of post-industrial society the role of distribution has come to increasingly be viewed as a generator of wealth in the economy, attracting the interest of public policy makers anxious to influence investment, employment and efficiency in the sector.

First published in 1982, this book isolates the major trends affecting the main institutions in distribution and contrasts the processes of change amongst the countries and regions of the European Economic Community. Structural change in the industry is related to spatial change in the regions and comparisons made of the varied public policy responses in member countries. An interesting and relevant reissue, this title will be of particular value to economics and business students with an interest in the development of the European consumer and post-industrial Europe.

Extraordinary technological progress, but also the experience gained from the global COVID-19 pandemic, force the future vision of the world's economic development to assume a close coexistence and intense interaction between production (manufacturing) and logistics and supply chain management. This perspective requires that the current functioning of organizations will have to be radically remodeled so that they can face not only market competition, but also the turbulent changes (VUCA) that take place in their close environment. Therefore, in the next few years, one of the most important tools for improving organizations may become the industry audits, especially logistics audit. This book explores the development, methods and impact of logistics audits on organizations. In a holistic way, the book refers to topics such as internal audit, control, logistics system of enterprises, principles of conducting logistics audit and its problem areas (risk), logistics audit of procurement, production, warehousing, distribution, and supply chains, impact of the digital economy on organizations, and the European market for logistics audit services. Undoubtedly, the greatest asset of this book is that, in international terms, it is the first compact book devoted to the issue of logistics audit. Unique and timely, the book will be an essential resource for academics and postgraduate students of logistics, supply chain management and global operations in particular.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the supply chains of all sectors of business worldwide. The pandemic has made it evident that by managing supply chains in a traditional manner organizations will no longer be able to achieve profits and improve customer satisfaction. This calls for immediate structural changes in organizations, flexible organizational culture, and a sense of urgency to redefine strategies related to supply chains. The Handbook of Research on Supply Chain Resiliency, Efficiency, and Visibility in the Post-Pandemic Era explores diverse strategies for achieving capabilities related to supply chain resilience and seeks to expand the existing body of knowledge in this area. It develops models, frameworks, and theoretical concepts related to supply chain resilience to enhance efficiency and improve visibility of supply chains. Covering topics such as change management, production relocation, and supply chain risk, this book is an essential reference for business leaders, corporate executives, industry practitioners, researchers, academicians, educators, and students.

Good operations and supply chain management practices are essential for the existence of both private and public organisations offering goods or rendering services. These practices are subject to volatile changes in markets due to global developments and hence it is important to understand the drivers of change to be able to respond adequately. Trends in operations and supply chain management covers a number of these drivers within the realm of operations and the supply chains serving businesses, so that the reader is equipped to respond with robustness in the changing environment.

The book covers the topics from a practical perspective and shares many case studies and examples to take the reader on a logical path of understanding the trends in operations and supply chain management and the importance of the drivers of change while sharing practical advice and solutions for the global industry.

The contents include the following:

• Green purchasing fundamentals
• Design for the environment
• Environmental accounting and environmental economics
• Sustainable operations and supply chain management
• Food security
• Digital technologies and operations in the fourth industrial revolution
• Maritime logistics
• Construction supply chain

Trends in operations and supply chain management is aimed at undergraduate students as well as professionals working in industry to support the sustainable business practices and goals of their organisations.

Licensing, Selling and Finance in the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industries is an assessment of the turbulent state of pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets as we enter the second decade of the 21st Century. At the same time, the book offers a cautionary evaluation of the future financing of innovation in terms of what's gone wrong and how to succeed in the future. Martin Austin explores the challenge that the pharmaceutical (and related) industries face in terms of balancing short term, cost containment and expenditure control in areas such as internal research and development; whilst embracing in-licensing and the acquisition of innovative therapies to counteract their impending portfolio weaknesses in the mid to longer term. The first part of the book provides an engaging and convincing perspective on the context in which the industry currently finds itself; the second part is a pragmatic guide to commercialising your intellectual property; including how to recognise and value what you have as well as the new ways of working that you will need to adopt when negotiating, collaborating and contracting in partnership and alliance with others. Commentators have described in great detail the cocktail of commercial, clinical and social issues that threaten to overwhelm the pharmaceutical industry; Martin Austin's book offers a very distinctive perspective on these issues and their solution.

The market and demand for Halal goods and services is ever increasing and, with it, the importance of supply chain integrity. Integrity from the perspective of Halal logistics service providers is a prerequisite of Halal compliance. This book provides a unique overview of Halal supply chain integrity (HSCI) using examples from Malaysia. The book carefully addresses and simplifies the issue of integrity in Halal logistics and supply chain. It gathers findings from a Halal supply chain integrity study from the leading country in Halal, Malaysia, to shed light of current issues, developments and future trends on the theory and practice of Halal in the logistics sector. In particular, the book discusses factors such as Halal quality assurance, trust and commitment, and halal assets specificity. This will be a useful reference for researchers, scholars and upper-level students who wish to understand Halal logistics and supply chain management and the importance of protecting integrity of Halal services and products.

Effective Document and Data Management illustrates the operational and strategic significance of how documents and data are captured, managed and utilized. Without a coherent and consistent approach the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization may be undermined by less poor management and use of its information. The third edition of the book is restructured to take this broader view and to establish an organizational context in which information is management. Along the way Bob Wiggins clarifies the distinction between information management, data management and knowledge management; helps make sense of the concept of an information life cycle to present and describe the processes and techniques of information and data management, storage and retrieval; uses worked examples to illustrate the coordinated application of data and process analysis; and provides guidance on the application of appropriate project management techniques for document and records management projects. The book will benefit a range of organizations and people, from those senior managers who need to develop coherent and consistent business and IT strategies; to information professionals, such as records managers and librarians who will gain an appreciation of the impact of the technology and of how their particular areas of expertise can best be applied; to system designers, developers and implementers and finally to users. The author can be contacted at [email protected] for further information.

This new book, Logistics Management, blends traditional logistics activities with the current developments in business that have made logistics a critical element for business success. It adopts a customer or marketing focus to the subject of logistics, and the wider concept of supply chain management, by recognizing that customer satisfaction is the primary output of logistics activities. The theme of global logistics integrated throughout the current edition will also continue and will be enhanced by discussion of the dichotomy that the European market represents both a common and global environment.

Ranked as the second most important growing economy in the world, India represents one of the most interesting sourcing and selling markets. A real 'global strategy' cannot ignore it. Using the experiences of leading international companies (including Accenture, DHL and IDS), this book illustrates opportunities, threats and approaches in the management of an offshoring project in India. It clarifies issues concerning FDIs, intellectual property protection and transport/communication, and closes with a detailed description of five in-depth case studies.

The supply chain is at the heart of every successful business organization's decision-making process. This textbook explains how to create a winning supply chain management strategy by spotlighting how senior executives in European and US companies have turned their supply chains into strategic weapons designed to convert threats, risks and outside pressures into competitive advantages. Strategic Supply Chain Management contains twenty real-world cases, all of which have been field researched by a top author team and tested out in the classroom. Each case adopts an executive leadership perspective to illuminate the real dilemmas faced by managers. The authors draw on their extensive classroom and industry experience to ensure that the writing style is geared towards an executive education readership. This elite case package will provide a complete teaching resource and authentic learning experience for MBA and executive education classes in Supply Chain Management throughout the world.

This standard South African text has been revised to incorporate current management issues and offer contemporary perspectives in the field. The edition of this title retains its pragmatic element, while the theory has been made more accessible through the outcomes-based approach. It covers the basic principles of purchasing and supply management, the activities incumbent on a purchasing and supply manager, as well as resources and areas of application. It addresses the transition from basic purchasing and supply management to the more integrated system of supply chain management. Several contemporary notions, such as the supply chain management approach, strategic sourcing, electronic information systems, supply contract management, supplier relationship management, risk management and the purchasing of services are included. Ethical aspects and purchasing from small and disadvantaged businesses receive more emphasis in this edition. This new and updated edition of a trusted and reliable text offers stimulating new insights. Readers who are familiar with the previous editions will find the new one both exciting and rewarding.

Historically important trade routes for goods of all kinds for more than 3000 years, the Silk Road has once again come to prominence. Managing Supply Chains on the Silk Road: Strategy, Performance, and Risk present emerging supply chain practices from the Silk Road regions that include China, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Iran, Central Asia, Lebanon, Turkey, Israel, and Hungary. It takes a results-oriented, comparative approach to supply chain management covering structural, strategic, and operational topics.
The book first presents how the historical Silk Road supply chains operated and then provides new and interesting examples from different countries the Silk Road passed, from China to Europe. The text demonstrates that the supply chain concept and its related practices are not new, per se, and invented recently in the West. Rather, it was practiced for centuries along the Silk Road and became the foundation for today 's global supply chains. Against this backdrop, the book explores the differences and similarities along the Silk Road in the supply chain management process and what can be learned from them.
As supply chains become longer, leaner, and more scattered around the globe, performance and risk become two sides of a coin. Bringing together a diverse team of experts from academia and the business world, the book 's coverage spans not only regions, but industries. This fresh perspective provides insights for assessing performance and hedging risk and opens up new directions for research.

Haksoz, Seshadri, and Iyer have brought together 28 scholars and business executives from different continents to share their perspectives about past and present trading activities along the Silk Road. the book] examines a wide range of issues arising from a multicultural perspective. provides clear insights of the past and the present that will help academics and practitioners to gain a better understanding of the future.
-From the foreword by Christopher Tang, University of California, Los Angeles