This work provides a definition of the fundamental principles and applications of supply chain management (SCM). It centers around understanding SCM as a fundamentally new business management philosophy, seeking to exploit the competitive advantage to be gained from leveraging the core, innovative competencies of systems of supply chain partnerships. Exploring the SCM philosophy from several different perspectives, the text begins with corporate strategy formulation and moves on to a division of the impact of supply channel design, inventory management, logistics, quality and performance measurement, and workforce and information management. The customer, product, and service, information and communications, supply channel, and logistics dynamics that are shaping the face of today's global marketplace are all thoroughly examined. The book goes on to discuss how changes to these areas have negated old management paradigms and called for the implementation of SCM concepts. It should be of interest to manufacturing; distribution; industry practitioners; including consultants and students.