Strategic Supply Management articulates how to create a supply management organization that you can count on to deliver reliable sources of supply and presents a framework for achieving sustainable competitive advantage. The popular press is loaded with stories about supply problems affecting many industries. Extensive outsourcing of major portions of a firm s value chain, relentless pressure from customers to improve product and service functionality and to reduce costs across almost every industry, and steep global competition have combined to create a search for new sources of competitive advantage. This search has led to supply management, the management of suppliers, and improved supply base relationships to become hot topics in the boardrooms of many organizations.
This book presents a road map and understanding of what it really means to practice strategic supply management. No longer a transactional activity, supply management is about creating and sustaining new sources of competitive advantage. Dr. Trent presents a holistic approach that focuses on breadth rather than depth so that readers can see how the different elements that comprise strategic supply management come together to create a hard-to-duplicate source of competitive advantage. Strategic Supply Management presents, in a concise manner, the need for supply leadership, the organizational enablers that must be in place, and the strategies and approaches that leading organizations pursue to achieve advantages in price and cost, quality, cycle time, technology, flexibility, and end customer responsiveness.
This is a must read for any procurement or supply management professional; finance, operations, and engineering functional managers; executives who interact on a regular basis with supply management professionals; and academics and students.
Chapter 1 Understanding Strategic Supply Management
Chapter 2 Recognizing the Importance of Supply Leadership
Chapter 3 Creating the Right Supply Organization
Chapter 4 Measuring across the Supply Network
Chapter 5 Using Information Technology to Support Supply Objectives
Chapter 6 Managing the Human Side of Supply Management
Chapter 7 Matching Supply Strategies to Supply Needs
Chapter 8 Contracting for the Longer Term
Chapter 9 Outsourcing for Competitive Advantage
Chapter 10 Building a World-Class Supply Base
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"Finally someone has put it all together...the reasons, the principles and the road map for establishing supply management as a sustainable source of competitive advantage. This book is a complete 'how to' guide on developing a successful supply management organization and process. If you're interested in a clear framework for moving beyond purchasing to effective supply management, this book is for you."
-- Elliot Grover, Vice President-Procurement, Mars Snackfood US --
"...a masterful job of organizing and conveying years of research and experience with leading supply management organizations into a must read for busy executives charged with driving increased value from purchasing and supply management. We will be using this book extensively in our open-enrollment and custom executive education programs."
-- David J. Frayer, Ph.D., Director, Executive Development Programs,
The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University --