Distribution Planning and Control

This third edition provides operations management students, academics and professionals with a fully up-to-date, practical and comprehensive sourcebook in the science of distribution and Supply Chain Management (SCM). Its objective is not only to discover the roots and detail the techniques of supply and delivery channel networks, but also to explore the impact of the merger of SCM concepts and information technologies on all aspects of internal business and supply channel management. This textbook provides a thorough and sometimes analytical view of the topic, while remaining approachable from the standpoint of the reader. Although the text is broad enough to encompass all the management activities found in today's logistics and distribution channel organizations, it is detailed enough to provide the reader with a thorough understanding of essential strategic and tactical planning and control processes, as well as problem-solving techniques that can be applied to everyday operations.

Distribution Planning and Control: Managing in the Era of Supply Chain Management, 3^rd Ed. is comprised of fifteen chapters, divided into five units. Unit 1 of the text, The SCM and Distribution Management Environment, sets the background necessary to understand today’s supply chain environment. Unit 2, SCM Strategies, Channel Structures and Demand Management, reviews the activities involved in performing strategic planning, designing channel networks, forecasting and managing channel demand. Unit 3, Inventory Management in the Supply Chain Environment, provides an in-depth review of managing supply chain inventories, statistical inventory management, and inventory management in a multiechelon channel environment. Unit 4, Supply Chain Execution, traces the translation of the strategic supply chain plans into detailed customer and supplier management, warehousing and transportation operations activities. Finally Unit 5, International Distribution and Supply Chain Technologies, concludes the text by exploring the role of two integral elements of SCM: international distribution management and the deployment of information technologies in the supply chain environment. Each chapter includes summary questions and problems to challenge readers to their knowledge of concepts and topics covered. Additionally supplementary materials for instructors are also available as tools for learning reinforcement.

A recognized thought-leader in enterprise resources planning (ERP) and supply chain management (SCM), David Frederick Ross has spent over 35 years in the field of operations management as a practitioner, consultant and educator. During his 13 years as a practitioner, he held line and staff positions in several manufacturing and distribution companies. Over 22 years of his career was spent in ERP and SCM software project management, application software and education courseware development and consulting and professional development for several technology companies. Currently, he is Senior Manager, Professional Development for APICS headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA (e-mail: david.ross@apics.org).

Dr. Ross has also taught operations and supply chain management in several academic settings. These include Oakton Community College, Easter Illinois University, Elmhurst College and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is a long-time instructor in several of APICS’s education and certification programs and is a certified APICS instructor. Dr. Ross holds a PhD degree from the University of Chicago and is recognized as a CFPIM and CSCP by APICS.

Besides articles and industry white papers, he has published six books in SCM. Distribution Planning and Control (1996, 2nd ed. 2004), is used by many universities and is a foundation book for APICS’s Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) program. Competing Through Supply Chain Management (1998) is one of the very first complete texts on the science of supply chain management. Introduction to e-Supply Chain Management (2003) merged the concepts of e-business and SCM. A second edition of this book, entitled Introduction to Supply Chain Management Technologies, was released in 2010. This book has been adopted by APICS as a primary resource in the Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program. The Intimate Supply Chain (2008), explores the interrelationship between SCM, customer relationship management (CRM) and customer experience management (CEM). He also contributed a chapter entitled "Supply Chain Management: Principles and Structures" for the Manufacturing Engineering Handbook (2015).