"The Essence of Production/Operations Management" has been designed as a reference source for managers on short courses, for MBA and other students who want to get quickly to the heart of the subject, as reference material for manager's bookshelves and for aspiring managers wishing to improve their knowledge and skills. The "Prentice Hall Essence of Management" series is concise, analytical and uniform in its approach to the key topics of good business practice. This book provides insights into the management of the function responsible for making products or providing services. Typically accountable for the largest portion of a company's costs, assets and people, it is critical that executives within an organization understand and appreciate the essence of these activities. The text covers both the strategic and operational aspects of the POM task and introduces approaches to developing a POM strategy within a business, linking to the requirements of the relevant market.