The Essentials of Supply Chain Management: New Business Concepts and Applications

Abstract

This book project is ten years behind schedule. While working on this project, I often wondered if I would ever finish it. However, writing this book has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had because it helped me educate myself about the dynamic evolution of supply chain principles and created a discussion forum with my beloved students. In particular, without the valuable feedback from my former executive and professional MBA students, I might not even have a chance to introduce this book to prospective readers and enthusiastic students who are curious about one of the hottest business topics around. Although a majority of the content of this book originated from the education/training materials I used for a series of executive education/training programs I organized at the UPS Center for Worldwide Supply Chain Management (UPSi) at the University of Louisville, I should give a ton of credit to my former mentors who initially guided me into the exciting field of supply chain management. Some of these mentors include Drs. Martha Copper, John Current, Bernard LaLonde, and David Schilling of the Ohio State University, Dr. Robert Markland of University of South Carolina, and Dr. Lori Franz of University of Missouri-Columbia. These professors taught me how to become a consummate scholar.