Operations Management is the effective planning, organization and control of the resources and activities needed to provide customers with goods and services. This encompasses a broad range of functions including the provision of raw materials, manufacturing, assembly and distribution of finished goods to the client. With the increasing use of subcontractors in disparate locations for many business functions and the continual drive for shorter lead-times, this supply-chain network is a critical factor in business success. Derek Waller's new approach to operations management treats operations and the supply chain as an integrated system, highlighting the links between the supply chain and all other parts of the business in both the manufacturing and service sectors. To reflect this, he gives more prominence to key topics such as inventory control, quality, planning and forecasting than many competitive books. A comprehensive and practical text, the first edition has been praised for its fresh approach, lively writing style, use of examples and international emphasis. The current book takes a fully student-centred approach complete with chapter introductions, summaries, boxed examples, questions, exercises and cases. As befits a modern text in operations management, Waller balances the coverage of manufacturing and service sectors and includes up-to-date technological topics. The new edition will be rewritten throughout to incorporate the latest technological advances and business thinking. In addition, the supply chain approach will be more clearly highlighted, along with links to strategy, to provide a more coherent conceptual framework.