New book on mastering supply chain volatility launched

A new book, 'X-SCM: The New Science of X-treme Supply Chain Management', includes contributions from world experts in supply chain volatility management and unveils a new science for managing supply chain risk and extreme volatility. It delivers a real-world experience by offering examples of how today's companies are applying the practice of extreme supply chain management to improve their supply chain visibility and execution. The book also includes an online toolset that provides new online supply chain simulations, enabling players to explore, react to and manage supply chain volatility scenarios.

The primary authors of the book are Lisa Harrington, a senior research fellow at the University of Maryland (UMD) and president of lharrington group, and Sandor Boyson and Thomas Corsi, Co-Directors of the Supply Chain Management Center at UMD. The sponsors of the book are the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and Sterling Commerce, an IBM Company, as the project's technology sponsor. Richard Douglass, global industry executive at Sterling Commerce, also was a co-contributor. Published by Taylor and Francis Group, the book is available at Amazon.com and at http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415873567/ for US$69.95.

Lisa Harrington, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Maryland, commented: "As technology has evolved, so has the ability to better manage the now complex and dynamic global supply chains most companies work with. This book is the best resource for learning about the latest techniques for managing today's volatile supply chains, including new techniques for analyzing country-level investments, network configuration and in-sourcing/out-sourcing decisions that can enable more precise and effective span of control."

Richard Douglass, Global Industry Executive, Manufacturing and Logistics, at Sterling Commerce, said: "Extreme Supply Chain Management is about using existing infrastructure to respond to the pull of the market rather than the push of supply. By taking advantage of the existing infrastructure and finding new ways to mine for data using new software solutions, companies can gain deeper insight into their supply chains, allowing them to better plan for the future, keeping less inventory in their warehouses and on shelves while still meeting customer demand."

Rick Blasgen, President and CEO of CSCMP, comment: "CSCMP's goal is to provide a forum to help supply chain professionals from around the world stay current on trends, best practices and thought leadership in their fields. By tackling the challenges of volatility, this book not only supports this goal, but addresses issues that will be top-of-mind for corporate leadership for years to come."