Operations Management (OM) represents a dynamic and significant field of scholarly research and writing. Changes in the business environment over the last fifteen years has driven rapid developments in OM practice so that the production of goods and provision of services are now more market focused rather than technology led. This collection defines the nature and meaning of Operations Management. It draws together leading edge papers that reveal the state of Operations Management today and classic articles that chart the development of practice to the present. These three volumes assemble the work of internationally renowned scholars and look at the following key areas Volume 1 Operations management concepts and strategy Volume 2 The design of operations systems Volume 3 Operations planning and control Volumes 4-6 of this important new major work will be publishing in September 2006.