ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 begins with the meaning of supply chain engineering and describes, at a high level, the key decisions made in managing supply chains—strategic, tactical, and operational. We define the enablers, drivers, and the conflicting criteria used in supply chain management. We describe the supply chain enablers—organizational infrastructure, technology, strategic alliance, and human resource management. Next, we discuss the supply chain drivers—inventory, transportation, facilities, and suppliers. Cost, responsiveness, and risk are introduced as the conflicting criteria. We show how the criteria relate to a company’s financial measures. Next, we present the top 25 supply chain companies in the world and their distinguishing characteristics that made them the global supply chain leaders. Finally, we describe the evolution of supply chains and how the Covid-19 pandemic made “supply chains” a household term. We end the chapter with a chapter-by-chapter overview of the textbook.
