RFID (radio-frequency identification) is increasing its presence in our personal and business lives—you name it and RFID is likely to be finding its way there. RFID has many advantages over other auto-ID technologies, including its ability to read tags at the item level while the items are still in boxes and pallets and out of line of sight. In addition, RFID tags are reusable, which helps reduce the costs associated with an RFID system. RFID is a technology that can provide decision makers with real-time information to result in better and timelier decisions. It can help increase efficiency, security, and asset control. This second edition contains updated information on the technology and its uses, new and updated examples, and a new case study. This book provides readers with no prior knowledge of RFID with the basics of the technology, guidelines for considering its use, examples of how RFID is being used effectively in a variety of organizations, and guidelines for implementing an RFID system.

The intent of this book is to provide a sufficient discussion of RFID to enable readers with no prior knowledge to develop a basic understanding of the technology. RFID for the Supply Chain and Operations Professional discusses current applications and specific examples of RFID usage taken from a variety of industries. The appropriate coupling of RFID with other technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS), enterprise resource planning (ERP), IIoT technologies and robotics is discussed as well as an overview of the RFID implementation process. This book will help readers develop an understanding of the capability of the technology to increase an organization’s customer responsiveness. In the third edition, the discussion and examples have been updated to reflect the rapid advancement in RFID technology. A new case study and new examples have been added along with updated discussions and projections about RFID technology.

The supply chain management field is one of the fastest growing fields in our economy, given the heavy growth in international trade as a means to access outsourced production opportunities to lower costs and the growth in information technology to coordinate supply chains. However, this opportunity to lower costs entails significant risks, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, political unrest, and economic turbulence. This book discusses risks in supply chain management, followed by graphic and quantitative tools (risk matrices, selection methods, risk simulation modelling, linear programming, and business scorecard analysis) to help manage these risks.

This book is a collection of chapters on issues we face today in the world of supply chain management. While there are a number of college textbooks related to specific areas within logistics and supply chain issues, there are very few general supply chain management “trends” books. Contemporary Issues in Supply Chain Management and Logistics consists of seven dynamic, current and informative chapters that cover a variety of cutting-edge supply chain topics of use to both graduate students, and professionals working in the field. The book contains new, original research papers written by academics from the fields of engineering, transportation, marketing, and supply chain management and logistics.

“In this second edition, Vic and Chris have done an excellent job of citing the importance of accurate problem identi cation and the need for validated data input for the decision making process—a must read book for those managers responsible for making operational decisions.” - Richard Bozeman, Jr., Author and Inventor, Retired Chief of the Propulsion and Power Division Test Facilities, NASA “I TRULY enjoyed the book and found it very informative. I am not an easy sell when it comes to the quantitative approach however I WAS SOLD! I will never approach future negotiations and future data analysis the same after reading this book. GOOD JOB!”—Peter Birkholz, Managing Partner of the Sam Houston Group LP, Management Consultant—Birkholz Management Co., LLC -- Information is power in supply chain operations, negotiations, continuous improvement programs, process improvement, and indeed in all aspects of managing an operation. Accurate and timely information can result in better decisions that translate into the improvement of bottom-line results. This book provides the business professional a concise guide to the creation and effective use of both internal and external cost models. Development of internal cost models is discussed with illustrations showing how they can be deployed to assist in new product development, pricing decisions, make-or-buy decisions, and the identi cation of opportunities for internal process improvement projects.

Does your company suffer from inventory obesity? Is the balance between your supply and demand a constant struggle? In The Supply Chain Revolution, Art Koch unveils a masterful system for any organization to build better supply chain fundamentals and overcome the evils of inventory. This is the ultimate playbook for CEOs, COOs, and CFOs to revolutionize supply chains and convert them from cost centers to profit and value drivers. Turn your supply chain into a powerful weapon for sustainable profitability by unlocking the power of inventory velocity with innovative strategies for process optimization, team engagement, and corporate valuation. It’s not just good management—it's a proven competitive advantage.

This book is for everyone who wants to make better forecasts. It is not about mathematics and statistics. It is about following a well-established forecasting process to create and implement good forecasts. This is true whether you are forecasting global markets, sales of SKUs, competitive strategy, or market disruptions. Today, most forecasts are generated using software. However, no amount of technology and statistics can compensate for a poor forecasting process. Forecasting is not just about generating a number. Forecasters need to understand the problems they are trying to solve. They also need to follow a process that is justifiable to other parties and be implemented in practice. This is what the book is about. Accurate forecasts are essential for predicting demand, identifying new market opportunities, forecasting risks, disruptions, innovation, competition, market growth and trends. Companies can navigate this daunting landscape and improve their forecasts by following some well-established principles. This book is written to provide the fundamentals business leaders need in order to make good forecasts. These fundamentals hold true regardless of what is being forecast and what technology is being used. It provides the basic foundational principles all companies need to achieve competitive forecast accuracy.

Most decisions and plans in a firm require a forecast. Not matching supply with demand can make or break any business, and that's why forecasting is so invaluable. Forecasting can appear as a frightening topic with many arcane equations to master. For this reason, the authors start out from the very basics and provide a non-technical overview of common forecasting techniques as well as organizational aspects of creating a robust forecasting process. The book also discusses how to measure forecast accuracy to hold people accountable and guide continuous improvement. This book does not require prior knowledge of higher mathematics, statistics, or operations research. It is designed to serve as a first introduction to the non-expert, such as a manager overseeing a forecasting group, or an MBA student who needs to be familiar with the broad outlines of forecasting without specializing in it.

This book raises the bar on what it means to be a high performance enterprise, providing methods and tools to engage the senior leadership team in building and sustaining rock-solid alignment. It demonstrates how to generate whole-hearted unanimity on precisely what creates value in the enterprise, who creates it, and how the value created shows up in the financial statements. Simple, step-by-step procedures given bring about whole-hearted unanimity in the senior leadership’s understanding of how the enterprise makes money. Where to focus energy (and where not to) is revealed. Readers are guided to apply ”non-directive leadership skills” to co-creating maps and reports of their enterprises’ value creating activities into a Management Operating System TM (MOS). Based on more than 30 years and over 50 hands-on projects using the work of legendary IBM Executive School leader, finance and values innovator, Lou Mobley, and Chuck Kremer, CPA, this book builds on Lou’s original breakthrough works building IBM’s executive leadership culture.

Giving organizations the ability to track, secure, and manage items from the time they are raw materials through the life-cycle of the product, radio frequency identification (RFID) makes internal processes more efficient and improves overall supply chain responsiveness. Helping you bring your organization into the future, RFID in the Supply Ch