Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Fifth Edition

Abstract

Logistics and supply chain management are now firmly established as critical business concerns. Many companies have appointed directors and Vice-Presidents who are responsible for ensuring the cost-effective operation of the ‘end-to-end pipeline’ that links the supply side of the business with the end market. When the first edition of this book was published in 1992, the practice of logistics and supply chain management was still in its infancy even though the underlying ideas had been around for a while. In preparing this fifth edition of Logistics and Supply Chain Management I have continued to maintain the focus of the book around the role that logistics and supply chain management play in achieving competitive advantage. The premise that has underpinned this book since the first edition is that businesses compete as supply chains rather than as stand-alone companies. Converting this idea from an abstract concept into real-world practice is still proving a challenge for many organisations. Hopefully this book will provide some guidance on how that transformation can be achieved.