The Shipping Point: The Rise of China and the Future of Retail Supply Chain Management

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my wife Lisa, my daughter Catherine and my sons Paul and Matthew for putting up with endless nights and weekends watching me work on my laptop from the kitchen table. They have been a constant source of unconditional support, and words cannot describe how much they mean to me.

I wish to thank the contributors to this book for their time and dedication in the midst of the global financial crisis that unfolded during the writing of this manuscript. Michael Jacobs from Toys“R”Us was instrumental in offering his insight and expertise in the technical aspects of dynamic supply chain models in China. Chris Robeson's international expertise in the area of supply chain innovation, particularly as it relates to postponement and delayed differentiation models, was invaluable to the development of the manuscript.

Tom Reilly from Next Horizon shared his perspectives on China 's developing workforce and the future of business process outsourcing in China. I thank him for his insightful contribution. David Barnes from Clarkson securities in London provided valuable expertise on the container freight derivative market in Shanghai, and John Gouveia contributed his expertise in the area of geographical information systems. Special thanks to John Pattullo, chief executive officer of CEVA Logistics, for his introduction on the importance of leadership in supply chain management.

Thanks to Professor Steve DeKrey for sharing his expertise on the critically important ...