An Introduction to Supply Chain Management: A Global Supply Chain Support Perspective

Edmund Prater

Feb 2013 · Business Expert Press

About this ebook

If you’re a manager of a supply chain operation, or a student learning about supply chain management, this book will provide not only an overview of supply chain management but also a framework for subsequent, more detailed study in various aspects of supply management. This book reviews the evolution of supply chain management concepts and discusses trends in global markets and strategic competitiveness. It then focuses on the major issues involved in managing a competitive supply chain including: forecasting, inventory management, distribution, dealing with uncertainty, reverse logistics, and customer service. Coverage of the dynamic, evolving issues pertaining to supply chains that affect the global business community concludes the book. With this book in hand, you’ll be better equipped to conceptualize the management of supply chains as a collection of business processes; identify primary and secondary value chain processes; distinguish between the umbrella term, “supply chain management,” and its component functions; and understand the basic tools of forecasting and the need for accurate data and forecasts on which to base supply chain management decisions.

About the author

Dr. Edmund Prater teaches global operations and logistics at the University of Texas at Arlington. He received his PhD, MSIE, and MSEE from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His work has been published in various research journals including the Journal of Operations Management, the International Journal of Operations & Production Management, and Communications of the ACM, among many others. Besides his academic career, he has been employed in the industry as a senior manager in BellSouth’s Technology Assessment Group. Kim Whitehead is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Texas at Arlington. She received her MBA in management from Florida State University and a BBA in accounting from Georgia College. Prior to working on her PhD, she worked in the consumer products industry for over 20 years, where she served in multiple financial capacities. Her career focus has been bridging the roles of finance and operations in manufacturing environments. Most recently she served for seven years as chief financial officer for a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of consumer products.