This book provides a broad spectrum of the knowledge required for the logistician and for his or her contribution to the growth of a company. The book is built on a conceptual framework in which all the stakes and themes of logistics are analyzed according to a systematic approach. Indeed, many elements are critical to the successful logistical strategy: customer relation management, interactive information support, production optimization and process development, vision, strategy and operations management, and human resources and resource allocation.
Growing out of a successful course given by the International Institute for the Management of Logistics (IML) of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, the purpose of the book is to present a methodology allowing the reader to apply the critical factors embedded in the design of strategy. The book combines concepts with practical examples. Transversal vision and detailed case studies highlight the main themes of modern logistics and daily preoccupations of logisticians.

The book is addressed to all professionals of logistics: managers, planners and engineers, as well as graduate students specializing in the field.

Introduction - Financial accouting - Logistical strategy and globalization - Customer service management - The structure and the operations of logistics systems - Transport management as a key logistics issue - Logistics of international trade - Designing the supply chain - Marketing and purchasing management- Production systems - Operations research in logistics - Modeling and simulation in logistics - Inforamtion systems - Information technology for logistics - Forecast analysis and forecasting models - Financial elements - Logistics: processing and controlling - World-class management - World-class logistics - Managing human resources.