Delivering the Goods: The Art of Managing Your Supply Chain

By Damon Schechter and Gordon Sander

We often think of great battles as having been won by superior strategy, bravery, or weaponry. Often, however, the greatest battles are decided by a much more mundane factor: logistics. Delivering the Goods looks at business logistics through the history of successful military logistical operations undertaken by leaders from Alexander the Great to General Norman Schwarzkopf, and offers practical guidance on applying proven logistical principles to your business.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471211141
• ISBN13: 9780471211143
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, John
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The battleground of the next decade

This could arguably be called modern supplementary reading to Sun Tsu's Art of War. It provides an interesting overview of logistics and supply chain management from the ancient world to modern times. The text is separated into two sections. The first half deals with the origins of logistics as a military art from Alexander the Great to the Gulf War and introduces the reader to the logisticians behind the generals. The second half deals with Schechter's logistical approach: The Tri-Level View, supplemented by case studies at the text's conclusion.As stated in the Epilogue, logistics is neither boring, nor is it donkey work, but the strategic differentiator between companies which will succeed or fail. After all, You can't promise what you can't deliver.

Entertaining & Informative - A Unique Approach to Logistics

The book is basically divided into two halves. The first half reads like a John Keegan book. If you're into military history at all, you'll really love this. I heard Keegan was actually involved in the writing of the first half. It's first class. The second half is where they filter the lessons from the first half into a pretty thorough checklist of ways to improve your organization. I enjoyed the book immensely. How about a Delivering the ______ series???

Business and war are won with logistics

Schechter has probably written the quintessential historical study on logistics with this volume. It is filled with interesting details of the human qualities and quirks of the generals and management gurus that investigated the problems of logistics and explains the processes involved with lucidity and wit. The book follows a chronological approach; however, it's also thematic to show the evolution of the subject of logistics and the influence of other functions on it - such as marketing. The serious and thoughtful manager is advised to read this book carefully.

A compelling read for a business book . . .

The keys to managing my own corporate supply chain "clicked" while flipping the pages. Also, lots of "Aha!" breakthroughs while reading, and tips to reinforce these concepts - this is what every business person should know, but wouldn't quite know where to look for it. What a refreshing perspective and chock full of case studies to learn from. I'll be keeping this one close to my desk to refer back to for years to come. Thanks!

Thanks for the book !!

Its debut could not be more timely. Mastering the "art of your supply chain" becomes even more critical to remaining competitive in today's stormy economy. A must read...