Strategic Supply Management Revisited

“In this highly informative and authoritative book, Dr. Trent explores the ever-increasing risks, challenges, and complexities faced by supply managers in today’s environment of rapid change and disruption, and presents strategies, tools, and techniques for effectively managing them—a must have!”

—Michael Tyler, Manager, Supply Chain Operations, Everson Tesla

In his 2007 best-selling book, Strategic Supply Management, Robert Trent presented concepts, processes, tools, best practices, and a framework for creating a supply management organization that would provide a reliable source of supply and competitive advantage. While the majority of that body of knowledge is still very relevant a decade later, it is no longer sufficient to effectively manage the supply networks and supply chains of today and over the next decade. This book introduces a new set of essential supply management concepts, strategies, and practices that are an integral part of surviving and thriving in this unprecedented era of rapid change and disruption.  

Dr. Robert Trent, Ph.D., is the supply chain management program director and professor of supply chain management at Lehigh University. He holds a B.S. in materials logistics management from Michigan State University, an M.B.A. from Wayne State University, and a Ph.D. in purchasing/operations management from Michigan State University.

Bob has many years of industrial experience in operations management, distribution planning production scheduling, packaging engineering, and the management of nonproductive materials, including more than seven years at the Chrysler Corporation. He has provided consulting and educational services within these areas to 60 corporations, government agencies, and associations.

Dr. Trent has authored and coauthored eight books and 50 articles appearing in a range of publications. He has also coauthored eight major research monographs published by CAPS Research and has made presentations at dozens of conferences and seminars. 

Robert Trent has been awarded the MBA Core Curriculum Teacher of the Year, the MBA Elective Teacher of the Year, and the Staub Award for Excellence in undergraduate teaching at Lehigh University. He has also been awarded the Mercy Professorship and the Beckwith Professorship at Lehigh. He and his family reside in Lopatcong Township, New Jersey.

Part I: Setting the Stage

Chapter 1: The Changing Competitive Landscape

Chapter 2: Overused and Misused Terms in Supply Management

Part II: Building the Foundation

Chapter 3: Shifting from Human Resources to Talent Management

Chapter 4: Evolving Organizational Designs

Chapter 5: New Directions in Supply Measurement

Chapter 6: The Information Enabled Supply Organization

Part III: Contemporary Topics in Supply Management

Chapter 7: Strategy is Still King (or Queen)

Chapter 8: Linking Supply Management and Corporate Success

Chapter 9: Winning through Collaboration

Chapter 10: Becoming the Customer of Choice

Chapter 11: Managing the Inevitability of Risk

Chapter 12: Meet Flexibility, Your New Best Friend

Chapter 13: Global Supply, Reshoring, and Other Worldly Topics  

Chapter 14: The Process Centric Organization

Chapter 15: Battling Complexity and Winning

References

Epilogue

Index