Principles of Supply Chain Management

An increasingly global business landscape means that even the smallest of companies must contend with a growing base of international suppliers and customers. With that, comes a myriad of technical, organizational, and cultural changes that challenge traditional management practices. Regardless of the means taken to address these challenges, all companies will eventually have to synchronize the flow of their products, information, and funds.

Going beyond the usual supply chain text, Principles of Supply Chain Management not only details the individual components of the supply chain but also illustrates how the pieces must come together for an effective supply chain. Providing the logic behind why supply chain management is essential, the text examines how supply chains are evolving, looks ahead to future developments, and also:


Provides a balanced look at supply chains with a focus on where it needs to be—the customer

Describes the forward supply chain (from the supplier to the customer) and the reverse supply chain (recycling)

Reviews contemporary sustainability concepts including triple bottom line, cradle-to-grave, and cradle-to-cradle

Includes extensive discussions on retailing, distribution, and manufacturing topics

Details supply chain flows of physical goods, information, and funds

Highlights the need for coordinated change in technology, infrastructure, and cultures among supply chain members
Focusing on the customer and working backwards from the point of distribution all the way back to the point of origin, including the extractive industries of mining and agriculture, the text provides numerous examples and case histories to outline a proven approach for achieving effective supply chain integration. This self-contained resource provides readers with a realistic appraisal of the state of the art in supply chain management and the understanding needed to build and manage effective supply chains in a wide-range of industries. Most importantly, it emphasizes the need for building and maintaining cooperation and collaboration among all members of the supply chain.

Table of Contents
Overview of Supply Chain Management. The Customer Perspective. The Supply Perspective—Distribution, Production, and Procurement. Integrated Supply Chains. The Financial and Information Technology Perspectives. The Future.