Front Cover; Logistics Operations and Management; Copyright Page; Contents; List of Contributors; Part I: Introduction; Chapter 1 Overview; Chapter 2 Physical Flows; Part II: Strategic Issues; Chapter 3 Logistics Strategic Decisions; Chapter 4 Logistics Philosophies; Chapter 5 Logistics Parties; Chapter 6 Logistics Future Trends; Part III: Tactical and Operational Issues; Chapter 7 Transportation; Chapter 8 The Vehicle-Routing Problem; Chapter 9 Packaging and Material Handling; Chapter 10 Storage, Warehousing, and Inventory Management; Chapter 11 Customer Service. Part IV: Special Areas and PhilosophiesChapter 12 Logistics System: Information and Communication Technology; Chapter 13 Reverse Logistics; Chapter 14 Retail Logistics; Chapter 15 Humanitarian Logistics Planning in Disaster Relief Operations; Chapter 16 Freight-Transportation Externalities; Chapter 17 Robust Optimization of Uncertain Logistics Networks; Chapter 18 Integration in Logistics Planning and Optimization; Chapter 19 Optimization in Natural Gas Network Planning; Chapter 20 Risk Management in Gas Networks: A Survey; Chapter 21 Modeling the Energy Freight-Transportation Network.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of how to strategically manage the movement and storage of products or materials from any point in the manufacturing process to customer fulfillment. Topics covered include important tools for strategic decision making, transport, packaging, warehousing, retailing, customer services and future trends. An€introduction to logisticsProvides practical applications Discusses trends and new strategies in major parts of the logistic industry.