ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the ways in which supply managers approach supply chain relationships and explores some ways in which these may need to be developed in order to ensure the supply chain is effective. It discusses what supply management is and how it has changed over time, in concept and practice. The chapter looks into the strategic importance of supply within operations. It explores how supply management is undertaken in practice and develops a critical perspective on some approaches. The chapter explains concepts such as lean supply, agility and the management of supply chain relationships. Budget holders who want items of capital equipment will have clear ideas of the models they would like to get. In China, the logic of exploiting low labour costs may be expected to push such contracts west, resulting in the problems and costs of disruption and social problems in the east.
