Lean And Agile Value Chain Management

Offering guidance on how to develop a lean and agile value chain, this unique volume provides a comprehensive framework for driving out costs, reducing lead-times, making flexibility improvements, eliminating non-value added activities, and growing market share and profitability.

For the guest editor Remko I. van Hoek, in the field of logistics the debate between the 'lean' thinkers and those who advocate 'agility' is still very much alive. This special issue follows the International Conference on Agility in Helsinki, Finland, and is a collection of some of the best of the fifty papers presented there. The papers touch on agility in regards to forecasting, manufacturing, simulation, ERP and Chinese sourcing. The result is that the concept of agility can be considered as a practical path forward, rather than just a topic of academic debate.

In recent years, the supply chain has become a key element to the survival and prosperity of organisations in different industry sectors. Organisations dealing in dynamic business environments demand supply chains that support the satisfaction of customer needs. The principles of lean thinking that once permeated standalone organisations have now been transferred to the supply chain, making imperative the development of innovative approaches to supply chain management. Customer-driven Supply Chains: Strategies for Lean and Agile Supply Chain Design reviews the concept of lean thinking and its relationship to other key initiatives associated with supply chain management. Detailed industrial case studies based on the authors’ experience illustrate the principles behind lean supply chains. Moreover, a series of diagrams are used to illustrate critical concepts and supply chain architectures. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of transferring lean principles from the organisational level to the supply chain level. The theory and principles behind lean supply chains are reviewed. Other concepts related to lean supply chains discussed in the book include: mass customisation, agility, information sharing and the bullwhip effect. A methodology used to measure the performance of supply chains is introduced; this methodology comprises the tools of decision timeline, data-flow diagramming, supply chain value stream mapping and a performance measurement scorecard. Readers will gain a clear picture of the competitive implications of lean supply chains. Customer-driven Supply Chains: Strategies for Lean and Agile Supply Chain Design will be a valuable resource of material to students studying supply chain/operations management as well as researchers in this field. Industry practitioners will learn how to develop sound supply chain strategies that can have a positive impact in their organisation.

Unlike other strategic procurement guides, Lean Supply Chain Management considers an organization's "business condition" as a contributing factor in the development of a strategic procurement strategy. That is, rather than taking a "one-size fits all" approach, the author's more individualized approach illustrates techniques specific to organizations operating in a standard or crisis environment. Highlights include: Methods for developing and tracking strategic procurement initiatives. Planning in the "standard" and "crisis" environments. Coordinating supply chain management and lean manufacturing. Performance measurement tools. Lean Supply Chain Management provides purchasers and supplier development professionals with the tools needed to transform procurement from a mere cost center to a profit generator.

The purpose of this book is to describe how lean and supply chain management can be combined to achieve world-class business performance. To accomplish this purpose, the book contains both basic material on lean and supply chain management, as well as content from current journal research findings, strategies, issues, concepts, philosophies, procedures, methodologies, and practices in managing a lean supply chain. Presented in a topical fashion, the chapters deal with a wide-range of subjects that support, nurture, and advance principles, concepts, and methodologies of lean supply chain management. Contents: Introduction to Lean and Supply Chain Management: LeanSupply ChainsThe Nexus of Lean and Supply Chain ManagementTopics in Lean Supply Chain Management: Topics in Lean Supply Chain LeadershipStrategic Customer Value Focus in Lean Supply Chain ManagementTopics in Aligning Lean Supply Chain Strategy, Tactics, and Operational PlansEthics, Trust, and Collaboration Topics in Lean Supply ChainsTopics in Globalization and Cultural Impacts on Lean Supply ChainsTopics in Lean Supply Chain Information SystemsTopics in Lean Supply Chain New Product DevelopmentTopics is Lean Supply Chain E-commerceTopics in Lean Supply Chain OutsourcingTopics in Sustainable Lean Supply ChainsTopics in Building Agile and Flexible Lean Supply Chains Readership: Undergraduates, Graduates, academics and consultants who are interested to know more about lean supply chain management. Keywords: Lean;Lean Management;Supply Chain;Supply Chain ManagementReview: Key Features: This is a topical book, that focuses in-depth on the Lean topics that are coveredThis book covers many of the newer Lean topics that are the focus point for Lean firms todayThe chapters of this book has been updated with current literature and even include the most recent advances in Lean-related technology (some of which have yet to be implemented but are in the planning stages)

The latest book from a successful author team, this essential handbook provides the basic concepts, tools and techniques to support a supply chain excellence initiative. The book shows how to add value to an organisation through the optimum use of resources and supply chain elements and through the provision of improved customer satisfaction. Resources are defined as all available resources, whether owned or borrowed along the complete supply chain, from the supplier's supplier, through to the customer's customer. Specific supply chain issues and opportunities related to service industries, e-Supply Chain and emerging markets like India are key features of this book.