This introductory textbook describes the basics of supply chain management, manufacturing planning and control systems, purchasing, and physical distribution. The fourth edition makes additions in kanban, supply chain concepts, system selection, theory of constraints and drum-buffer-rope, and need for new products. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

New features for this edition:
- marginal icon to note key concepts
- key terms listed at the end of the chapter with chapter page cross-references
- expanded coverage of key topics: kanban, supply chain concepts, system selection, theory of constraints and drum-buffer-rope, and need for new products
- chapter references to case studies in Introduction to Materials Management Casebook

Other features of this text:
- example problems within the chapters
- chapter summaries
- questions and problems at the end of each chapter

This text has been widely adopted by colleges and universities, not only in North America but also in other parts of the world. The text is listed in the American Production and Inventory Control Society’s CPIM Exam Content Manual as the text reference for the Basics of Supply Chain Management CPIM certification examination. Production and inventory control societies in other countries, including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Germany, France, and Brazil, also use this text.