This is a book that is aimed at senior executives who work within logistics and the supply chain, but it is something that can give valuable and actionable information to other business unit operatives too. The core aim is to divulge and assess some of the key external threats that can affect a supply chain, whilst attempting to develop and implement strategies to reduce the risk.

Whether professional or generalist, curious reader, you stand to gain a lot of good knowledge from this book – even if you believe you are already ‘in tune’ with the key issues. This revised (second) edition mixes both theory and practice together, documenting issues with real-world case studies and looking at what happened when a catastrophic exception occurred. Discussion and consideration is given to consider how the issue could have been mitigated, although one should never rest on one’s laurels and assume that there are cast-iron guarantees. The work has been revised and content reweighted as risk profiles change. A new chapter added to look at ‘cyber risks’.

For example, this reviewer has heard of a company who did everything right but could not plan for the delivery lorry bringing a container from the over side of the world catching fire a few kilometres from its destination. No accident or crash was involved. It just went up and destroyed the lorry and its load, leaving to a massive scramble to locate some components in the near-geographic region at a much higher cost, with still a knock-on impact to production, thanks to ‘just in time’ LEAN production strategies.

The range of risk factors being considered is broad and the detail is high. You get enough information to immediately assess the subject matter and, if applicable, you are then empowered to fill-in your own company-specific information.

It is a specialist book aimed at a relatively specialist market. The price-tag is going to put it outside the reach of many general readers, although it is still a ‘purchase no-brainer’ for the professional when you consider what you are getting and what you are hoping to avoid by reading it! There is a good mix of academic/further reading references too for those who need it.

All-in-all it is a damn good book. Treat it as you would an insurance policy. A necessary thing to have, covering something you hope never is realised.



Supply Chain Risk Management, written by John Manners-Bell and published by Kogan Page. ISBN 9780749480158. YYYYY