All organisations have a supply chain, be they goods manufacturers or services suppliers, so we should welcome books that aim to develop a different approach to the study of organisational supply chains.

Supply Chain Strategies lives up to its title. In essence, it explores the strategies and strategic management of supply chains, and is written with the student of supply chain management in mind rather than the experienced practitioner seeking new insights and novel options to consider.

From roots firmly located in purchasing, supply and operations, the concept of supply chain management, as we now understand it, owes much to developments in other disciplines: strategy, economics, marketing, organisational behaviour and information technology. It is the successful integration of these disciplines in terms of thinking and application throughout the management process that can make the difference between world-class performance and failure.

Tony Hines says his book differs from recent publications because it turns the focus away from the purely operational aspects of supply towards strategies that focus upon the customers, their requirements and supply chain imperatives. He seeks to redress the purported imbalance in the body of work on supply chains, which he argues are mainly internally focused approaches, and open up the debate about what it means in contemporary organisations throughout the world to manage their supply chains and formulate their supply chain strategies.

Written in a style to suit the novice and satisfy the expert, each chapter discusses the issues, contemporary practices and the lessons to be learned from different industries where successful management of supply chains has improved profits at organisational and industry levels.

What he does succeed in doing is compiling an excellent and comprehensive entry-level study of supply chain management: a logical and sequential journey starting with an analysis of global markets, ending with logistics and fulfilment strategies, and examining a number of important themes en route.

So if you are a student of supply chain management I’d strongly recommend adding it to your reading list.

Gerry Tominey

Programme manager

QP Group