Around the world, virtually every company is engaged in some form of effort intended to improve the processing that takes place across an end-to-end supply chain system as they work towards moving their organizations to the next level of performance. Supply chain, particularly when enhanced with collaboration and Internet technology, is uniquely suited to helping an organization increase profits and decrease costs. A comprehensive guide to adding value to supply chain efforts, Using Models to Improve the Supply Chain demonstrates how leading firms have successfully integrated their supply chains and how they plan further progress through supply chain evolution.

Using both generic and specific models, the author carefully explains just what’s required for each function of the supply chain and outlines what takes place form lower to higher levels of progress. He emphasizes establishing the pathway to success, then finding the correct models to guide the effort, and finally, implementing with the right combination of technology and collaboration, the elements that set one supply chain apart from another in the eyes of the customers and consumers. He explores the importance of business-to-business commerce or business-to-business-to-consumer commerce, enabled by cyber techniques as a central concept in any future business strategy.

Although some firms have come close, no firm has yet mastered all of the techniques and tool required to claim the dominant position. Selecting and applying the correct models can only enhance the odds of being the eventual ultimate leader in a particular industry. A practical guide for moving your supply chain effort forward, Using Models to Improve the Supply Chain provides the missing links needed to reach the necessary level of achievement.

Jesse Egbert is Assistant Professor of Linguistics and English Language at Brigham Young University. His research focuses on register variation and methodological issues in corpus linguistics. His research has been published in journals such as Corpora, International Journal of Corpus Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, and Journal of English Linguistics.

Paul Baker is Professor of English Language at Lancaster University. His research involves applications of corpus linguistics and his recent books include Using Corpora to Analyze Gender (2014), Discourse Analysis and Media Attitudes (2013) and Sociolinguistics and Corpus Linguistics (2010). He is the commissioning editor of the journal Corpora.