Supply Chain Development for the Lean Enterprise: Interorganizational Cost Management

Conducting research in supply chain costing, I found this book a very helpful source of information. The concept of supply chain management addressed by the product and the network dimensions are excellent, as this brings all aspects of material and information flows and partnerships in supply chain management together. Dividing each dimision in a decision (product design / network formation) and an operations phase (product manufacture / interfaces) provides a framework for supply chain costing. This framework is used to show how various cost management techniques (e.g. target costing) are applied in supply chains. Still, the interlinkes between the dimension could have been addressed clearer. Furthermore, the aspects of managing all costs along the supply chain are only partly covered. for example, the cost of organisational designs and negotiations / contracting in the supply chain are not discussed. Still, the book is a must for people interested in supply chains and cost management. Both the concepts presented and the case studies provide very valuable information.

This is heavy reading (but then again which book on costing isn't?). However it contain heaps of very useful and relevant approaches to the very elusive and difficult field of supply chain costing. What you find missing in other books on supply chain management is here!