In the industrial world, companies are always seeking competitive advantages to sustain themselves in the globalized market. A supply chain is one of these improvements that managers implement in order to stay ahead of the competition. However, certain methods of supply chains add risks such as the addition of costs, possible accidents, and economic losses. Because of this, companies are looking for techniques in which to progress their supply chain execution. The Handbook of Research on Industrial Applications for Improved Supply Chain Performance is a pivotal reference source that identifies techniques, tools, and methodologies that can improve supply chain performance and enable businesses to generate a competitive advantage in the globalized market. While highlighting topics such as material flow, route optimization, and green distribution, this publication is ideally designed for managers, executives, logistics engineers, production managers, warehouse operations managers, board directors, consultants, analysts, inventory control managers, researchers, academicians, industrial and managerial professionals, practitioners, and students looking to improve costs and quality of supply chains.

This second edition of Merger Control in the EU provides the reader with an exhaustive analysis of the European Community rules relating to merger control, including the new EC Merger Regulation 139/2004 of 20 January 2004 which entered into force on 1 May 2004 and the latest interpretive notices adopted by the European Commission. A brand new addition to the book is the companion website which will maintain the currency of the main work after publication; a service that is free of charge to all who own a copy of the book. The European Commission has exclusive competence to authorise or prohibit concentrations which have a Community dimension. Bearing in mind the economic relevance of these operations, decisions made by the Commission have an extraordinary market impact. This work is an invaluable and precise instrument for legal practitioners and economists, as well as for those undertakings involved in merger operations or acquisitions. It will enable them to become acquainted with the Commission's policy in this field and to guide themselves through the complex procedure of notification in Brussels. It will also be useful for those merger operations which are required to follow the procedure of notification to the national competition authorities in EU Member States, since the Commission's guidelines inspire, to a large extent, the acts and decisions of the national authorities in this field. This book analyses the issues related to merger control not only from a legal standpoint, but also from an economic one. It is a product of the authors' knowledge and experience in Brussels as officials of DG Competition in the Commission, and as lawyers defending the interests of undertakings involved in the notification procedure.