Supply Chains to Virtual Integration

'Companies often view e-commerce, supply chain management, technology, and process re-engineering as separate and disparate initiatives. "Supply Chains to Virtual Integration" provides a definitive roadmap for managing these not as disparate initiatives but as a fluid and integrated program for continuous improvement. Its unique blend of management theory and substantive guidance makes this a must-read for modern change agents' - David Vasile, Vice President/General Manager, Handleman Online.'Building viable e-businesses requires that companies separate real trends from the overabundant e-hype. In this quest, the old quote "The devil is in the details" is particularly apropos. Ram and Sabine Reddy's book is a tour-de-force in integrating both a broad vision of supply chain management with the often-missing nuance and detail required to successfully implement it' - Jim Highsmith, Director, E-Project Management Practice, Cutter Consortium, and author of "Adaptive Software Development: A Collaborative Approach to Managing Complex Systems".'"Supply Chains to Virtual Integration" focuses on the practical and effective management of costs across the supply chain.
Hidden costs are identified, organizational constraints highlighted, and technology solutions offered. In today's environment of globalization, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring, this book is a must-read for executives, bankers, and IT managers as they seek to identify quickly opportunities to rationalize and save costs in the supply chain. The authors dispel the common notion that converting "purchasing" to "supply chain management" is simply implementing the right software package. Instead they offer deep insights into the organizational and strategic complexities in managing supplier relationships to reduce costs' - Mike Tokarz.This title is all about the appropriate use of technology in managing supply chains and how business leaders shape their organizations to make them efficient and flexible. Internet technologies have transformed every corner of today's business world. Nowhere is this more evident than in supply chain systems, where fundamental changes are affecting the way firms design, assemble, deliver, and support products and services.
More than a revolution, however, these changes represent an evolution - one in which sound business principles must still be in place before a company can effectively leverage the new technologies, structures, and processes. "Supply Chains to Virtual Integration" introduces the newest supply chain technologies and explains how to implement them in your organization.Uniquely encompassing both strategic and tactical perspectives, this hands-on book provides: strategies for making effective technology acquisition and deployment decisions; and, methods for cutting back on your organization's visible and invisible procurement costs Information technology solutions for vertical and horizontal coordination. "Supply Chains to Virtual Integration" provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating your organization's existing supply chain system as well as understanding up-to-the-minute technology options for making it more customer responsive. It shows you how to weave a customer-directed "Supply Web," one focused on communication and collaboration across all trading partners, with the goal of complete customer interaction and satisfaction.