Book Review: Designing & Managing the Supply Chain

‘Designing & Managing the Supply Chain: Concepts, Strategies and Case Studies’

Second Edition

By David Simchi-Levi, Philip Kaminsky and Edith Simchi-Levi

Tata McGraw Hill

Devid Simchi-Levi is a professor of engineering systems at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Phil Kaminsky is Asst. Professor at University of California, and Edith Mimchi-Levi is co-founder and VP of LogicTools Inc, a supply chain planning Software Company. (LogicTools was acquired by ILOG, which was acquired by IBM ultimately.)

This is a very comprehensive book from the authors. In fact I have myself worked on some strategic tools from the pack and could relate with the theory or logic part of the same, as described in the pages of this book. The topics covered in this book are as follows:

Introduction to SCM, logistics network configuration, inventory management and risk pooling, value of information, supply chain integration, strategic alliances, procurement and outsourcing strategies, international issues on SCM, coordinated product and supply chain design, customer value and SCM, information technology for SCM, decision support systems for SCM.

All chapters start with case studies, and the book even have many computerized games, like a beer game, a risk pool game, and an inventory spreadsheet.

A very good book which I wish I had laid my hands on during my MBA. Recommended for all supply chain practitioners, managers and students of this stream.

- Rahul