The field of logistics continues to develop at a remarkable pace. Until recently, logistics was barely considered in long-term plans, but its strategic role is now recognised and lies at the heart of long-term plans in almost every business. Reasons for this change include: communications and information technology offer new opportunities; world trade grows; competition forces operations to adopt new practices and become evermore efficient; and the concern for the environment increases. Add to this the increased emphasis on consumer satisfaction, flexible operations and time compression, and it's clear that getting logistics right is important. This 7th edition of Global Logistics, edited by Stephen Rinsler and Donald Waters, has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the latest trends, best practices, and cutting-edge thinking on global logistics. It provides guidance on important topics, including agile supply chains, IT, sustainability and performance management, collaboration, outsourcing and humanitarian logistics. This edition of Global Logistics provides new chapters on supply chain trends and strategies, fulfilling customer needs, and supply chain vulnerability. There are also dedicated new chapters on China and Central and Eastern Europe to assess developments across the globe. This edition serves as a forum for acknowledged sector specialists to discuss key logistics issues and share their authoritative views. The new edition introduces new contributors, including leading thinkers from international universities and businesses. Global Logistics is an invaluable source of guidance and practical advice for students, managers and practitioners, who will find it an essential text that also includes online resources. Online resources available include a student manual with key learning outcomes for each chapter.

Taking a truly international perspective, this book outlines the current situation, and provides a wealth of useful ideas and practical information on all the current and future trends in logistics and distribution. This new edition contains new sections including logistics in China, central and eastern Europe.

Technology has introduced dramatic new efficiencies to supply chain design, management, and control--but only to those who can open their minds to these new methods and strategies. This book presents innovative articles from eighteen of today's top young Ph.D. scholars, each based on discussions at the 2000 Frank Batten Young Leaders Forum of the College of William and Mary. These ""rising stars"" from the country's most prestigious operations management programs each take a fresh perspective on current practices and future directions in supply chain management and overall business strategy. Provocative yet valuable questions are asked--and answers provided--on subjects including: * Development of effective performance metrics * Techniques to streamline the order management cycle * Methods to leverage product design and manufacture to reduce supply chain costs * Ways to share knowledge throughout an organization concerning forecasts, manufacturing and sourcing plans, and distribution.

This distinguished team of authors, articulate the top ten traits of greatness that distinguish supply chain leaders from the followers and lagers. Each chapter covers a trait of greatness which any firm in any business can calibrate itself against and initiate a plan for achieving similar progress.