After reading this book, you will be able to answer the following questions:

What is Operations and Supply Chain Management and why is it important? What are the key functions within this field, and how do they interact with one another and the broader business? What are the responsibilities and decisions that managers in each functional area think about? How will disruptions in the Supply Chain impact the business world and our lives going forward? What are the practical applications of the knowledge gained around Supply Chain Operations?

Have you ever wondered what your peers meant by “Supply Chain” or “Operations”, or why either of these fields matter? What about people that work in these roles — what do they actually do? In Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials You Always Wanted to Know these questions will be answered, and more.
This practical, yet simple, guide uses a hypothetical company and the consumer product they make, to explain how the various functions within the Supply Chain intertwine and contribute to bring a finished product to life for consumers in the market. You don’t need a management background to understand our story of how new demands, changing preferences, and unforeseen circumstances force this fictional company to adapt in order to survive. By posing questions that Supply Chain Operations Manager’s face, you will start to think like a Supply Chain Operations professional, whether it be in professional or personal applications. You may not be inspired to make a career shift into these areas or chat Supply Chain topics at the dinner table, however, you will gain an understanding and appreciation for how these activities make everyday products and services at our disposal — and why this is increasingly important for companies to pay attention to.

About the Author

Ashley McDonough is a Supply Chain and Finance professional who holds an M.B.A from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, one of the top M.B.A. programs in the world. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, with an emphasis in Supply Chain, Operations Management, and Economics.

Ashley has worked in various Supply Chain functions including planning, manufacturing, quality, logistics, continuous improvement, research and development, and project management. She has over 5 years of experience in large corporations as well as start-ups, in the United States and across Asia. This exposure is spread across various industries, including electronics, agriculture, FMCG, banking, retail, and apparel. As a firm believer in making complex Supply Chain concepts understandable, and a desire to share her experiences, Ashley has served as a corporate trainer on digital transformation and continuous improvement, both with emphasis on the implications to the Supply Chain.

Her diverse work history prepared her to write her first published piece as a contributing author to Food Safety for the 21st Century, highlighting her experiences working with dairy and packaging start-ups in Sri Lanka on their quality and environmental plans. Her exposure in the developing world gave her an understanding of how Supply Chain practices can be modified or simplified given the context in which they are being applied.

By complementing her professional experience with a passion for writing, Ashley hopes to share with others the complexities, challenges, and excitement that comes with working in the Supply Chain in a simple, yet practical way that is easy for anyone to understand.

Operations Research