Logistics engineering and management (Prentice-Hall international series in industrial and systems engineering)

This book is an essential textbook or reference for persons hoping to enter, or already working in, Federal Government acquisition logistics. DOD, FAA, NASA and other agencies who need to plan and accomplish logistics support for their new systems rely on these logistics concepts for their contracts. The book is very readable and provides helpful references. In one Federal aerospace contract on which I worked, the Government client asked our consulting firm to evaluate the logistics planning and management of their major prime contractor for a multi-billion dollar aerospace system. The Government client specified that our firm's analysts support our evaluations and recommendations, good or bad, with Blanchard's book. This gives good testimony at how highly regarded Blanchard's book is as an authoritative logistics source! The book is an extremely thorough, detailed and well written reference. Buyers should note; however, that if they are not in the Government systems acquisition field as students, engineers, analysts, or program managers, it will be of little use. In fact, it will probably be incomprehensible to them. Government systems acquisition contracts (particularly DOD's) are extremely structured and unlike the way commercial businesses buy and develop systems. The book is thus of little use for commercial business logistics planning, which does not follow Federal patterns. Summary: Very well worth the money if you work on US Governmentsystems acquisition contracts; but look for used copies, which are plentiful.

You get what you pay. Good overview of the major topics and the opportunity to evolve from that. See other books by the same writer.

I have used this text in practice and in courses for a number of years. It is a very sound reference and it is easy to comprehend. Prof Blanchard's approach is excellent: based upon systems concepts and a lifecycle orientation. The content is very organized and methodical. The strengths are the system engineering process, the supportability analysis, and the bibliography. A very disciplined method for the system engineering process is presented. The elaboration on functional analysis and allocation is superb. All of the tools presented under the supportability analysis are relevant and very usable. In particular the emphasis and examples of life cycle cost analysis are excellent. The appendices provide practical and up to date data and information for the practicing logistician. Excellent reference for preparation for the Certified Professional Logistician examination.

This book is a good reference to understand the basic logistic. It is very clear and practice.

The 5th edition is much improved over the 4th but while new information was added, some was lost. Both versions are a welcome addition to any logistician's bookshelf. The author admits that this is actually a System's Management book in disguise. This book is applicable to both military and commercial logisticians. The only complaint is that this edition should have focused more towards Post Production Support since few new large military acquisition programs are being awarded at this time.I both study and teach from this book and find it to be a useful textbook and reference book. (District 06 Director - The International Society of Logistics)