Product Description

In today's highly competitive global marketplace, the pressure on organizations to find new ways to create and deliver value to customers grows ever stronger. There is a growing recognition that through logistic efficiency and effective managment of the supply chain both cost reduction and service enhancement can be achieved. The goal of supply chain management is to link the marketplace, the distribution network, the manufacturing process and the procurement activity in such a way that customers are serviced at higher levels and yet at a lower total cost. In this book, Martin Christopher discusses the role of logistics in achieving these goals. He outines the role of logistics in using service levels to segment markets, exploring approriate measures to assess logistics productivity and service performance. This practical guide provides information on auditing logistic systems and describes how greater responsiveness in the supply chain can be achieved through lead time reduction.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #338126 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780273681762
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Inside Flap
Preface

In today's highly competitive, global marketplace the pressure on organizations to find new ways to create and deliver value to customers grows ever stronger. Gradually, in emerging economies as well as mature markets, the power of the buyer has overtaken that of the customer.

The rules are different in a buyers' market. In particular customer service becomes a key differentiator as the sophistication and demands of customers continually increase.

At the same time, market maturity combined with new sources of global competition has led to over-capacity in many industries leading to an inevitable pressure on price. Price has always been a critical competitive variable in many markets and the signs are that it will become even more of an issue as the "commoditization" of markets continues.

It is against this backdrop that the discipline and philosophy of logistics and supply chain management has moved to the centre stage over the last two decades. The concept of integration within the business and between businesses is not new, but the acceptance of its validity by managers is. There has been a growing recognition that it is through logistics and supply chain management that the twin goals of cost reduction and service enhancement can be achieved. Better management of the "pipeline" means that customers are served more effectively and yet the costs of providing that service are reduced.

This is the focus of this second edition of Logistics and Supply Chain Management. The basic themes and underlying structure of the book have not changed from the first edition but as ideas progress and best practice gets even better, the need for revision and up-dating becomes inevitable.

From the Back Cover

Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Creating Value-Adding Networks

Develop and exploit logistics strategies

In today¿s highly competitive global marketplace, the pressure on organizations to find new ways to create and deliver value to customers grows ever stronger.  There is a growing recognition that it is through logistic efficiency and effective management of the supply chain that the twin goals of cost reduction and service enhancement can be achieved.

Enhanced by diagrams, case-studies and chapter summaries, Logistics and Supply Chain Management looks at the tools, core processes and initiatives to ensure businesses gain and maintain their competitive advantage.

Key topics covered by Logistics and Supply Chain Management include:

·        the idea of a service-driven logistics system based upon identified service priorities and a customer base segmented according to service requirements

·        the many ways in which logistics can impact on overall return on investment and, ultimately, shareholder value

·        logistics performance indicators: the concept of competitive benchmarking and the principles behind the balanced scorecard

·        globalization: structuring a global logistics network, outsourcing and the co-ordination of network partners

·        the logistics implications of JIT and how developments in information technology have been harnessed to access its power.

New to this edition:

·        new chapters on logistics and customer value, integrated logistics and network logistics

·        more emphasis on responsiveness, reflecting increased volatility of demand in many markets

·        new chapter on managing risk in the supply chain

Responsiveness, reliability and relationships ¿ the basis for successful logistics and supply chain management.  

About the Author

Martin Christopher is Professor of Marketing and Logistics at Cranfield School of Management. His work in the field of logistics and supply chain management has gained international recognition. He has published widely, his recent books include Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Marketing Logistics. He is is also co-editor of the International Journal of Logistics Management and is a regular contributor to conferences and workshops around the world. At Cranfield, Martin Christopher chairs the Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management, the largest activity of its type in Europe. In addition to leading a number of on-going research projects in logistics and supply chain management, Martin Christopher is active as an advisor to many organisations and is non-executive director of a number of companies. In 1988 he was awarded the Sir Robert Lawrence Gold Medal for his contribution to logistics education and in 1997 was given the USA Council of Logistics Management¿s Foundation Award.

Customer Reviews

Advanced SCM - Must Read Book
This is a wonderful book and introduces the practioner to some of the frontiers of strategically driven service response logistics. In other words how to design, deploy and organize integrated SCM for corporate strategic reasons, not just for functional cost control. Probably one of three key books for understanding the frontiers and highly recommended.

Key is the process, customer value and system integration perspectives threaded throughout but particularly in the last several chapters. The chaper on service response logistics is worth the price of the book.

As a practioner dealing with advanced SCM I found this very worthwhile and found myself wishing I'd written it. If you are relatively new to the field you need a decent baseline grounding and Stock & Lambert's book on 'Strateigc Logistics' is a perfect complement. To move slightly higher up the food chain get the recent compilation of HBR articles called 'Managing the Value Chain'. Together the three make a perfect bookshelf set for any practioner, student or corporate executive who needs to understand what integrated logistics, SCM or the future of e-business might be doing to your career or your firm's competitive prospects !

Information Packed
This book is an excellent overview of logistics and supply chain management. I own dozens of texts on these subjects and this is one of the best. If your looking for a college text with problems to work out; then this is not the book for you. But, if your looking for quick insight into these topics, this is an excellent choice. The book quickly teaches the reader strategy, industry trends and supplies some basic quantitative tools. The industry examples bring the topics to life. Two thumbs up from me.

Not my first choice....
If you like me need to get to SCM strategic or tactical decisions, I would rather consult other books I also own. "Strategic Logistics Management" from a school book perspective and the brand new "Designing and Managing the Supply Chain" are excellent and better resources, covering everything (and then some) this book can offer. I will probably resell my copy of this book.
For SAP "Jockeys" or those who are thinking about SAP, "Supply Chain Management based on SAP Systems" is Excellent.