Logistics and Supply Chain Management (2nd Edition) (Financial Times Management) [Hardcover]

Martin Christopher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0273630490 | ISBN-13: 978-0273630494 | Edition: 2

Logistics management is increasingly being seen as a source of competitive strength. Its effective use provides potential for cost reduction and the opportunity for increasing market share. The second edition discusses the role of logistics in achieving corporate and financial goals. Updated and expanded with more checklists, more short cases and executive summaries, this is an invaluable guide for all logistics and distribution managers.

Editorial Reviews

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

The real-world guide to using logistics to maximize customer service and competitive performance!

• Improve flexibility and eliminate obstacles throughout your supply chain.
• Create logistics strategies that align with marketing objective, and use service levels to segment your customer base.
• Detailed case studies, quick-read executive summaries, and practical checklists.

In this readable, practical update to the global logistics best seller, one of the world's leading logistics experts demonstrates real-world logistics and supply chain techniques for dramatically improving your corporate performance, lowering your costs, and delighting your customers. Concise, hands-on, and business focused, Logistics and Supply Chain Management addresses every key logistics issue impacting your competitiveness.

Martin Christopher introduces best-practices processes for using service levels to segment markets, auditing logistics systems, and much more. Christopher demonstrates how to create logistics strategies that align with marketing objectives; improve flexibility throughout the supply chain; break down obstacles between functional departments, and reduce costs while at the same time enhancing customer service. Logistics and Supply Chain Management includes detailed case studies, quick-read executive summaries, and practical checklists—all designed to help any manager improve any supply chain, fast.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Financial Times Prentice Hall; 2 edition (August 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0273630490
• ISBN-13: 978-0273630494
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #536,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Advanced SCM - Must Read Book, November 9, 2000

By 

David Livingston (Bethel, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Logistics and Supply Chain Management (2nd Edition) (Financial Times Management) (Hardcover)

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 !

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not my first choice...., April 12, 2002

By 

Cheap-n-Easy (Triad, NC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Logistics and Supply Chain Management (2nd Edition) (Financial Times Management) (Hardcover)

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.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Information Packed, December 4, 2002

By 

JM - See all my reviews

This review is from: Logistics and Supply Chain Management (2nd Edition) (Financial Times Management) (Hardcover)

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.