This is a substantial new edition of a successful textbook which continues to have a sensible and 'easy to read' style. Each Chapter has a past/present/future theme with a real strategic approach. Strategic Operations Management shows operations as combining products and services into a complete offer for the customer. Services are therefore seen as key and are integrated throughout the material in each chapter. Manufacturing, service supply and other key factors are all shown to be in place. In an era where companies are fond of talking about core competences but still struggle to understand their operations, this is an important for academics and practitioners alike. Only when managers understand their operations will they be able to leverage them into any sort of capabilities that will lead to competitive advantage.