Real problems are formulated into tractable mathematical models, which allow for an analysis of various approaches.

"Inventory and Supply Chain Management with Forecast Updates is concerned with the problems of inventory and supply chain decision making with information updating over time. The models considered include inventory decisions with multiple sources and delivery modes, supply-contract design and evaluation, contracts with exercise price, volume-flexible contracts allowing for spot-market purchase decisions, and competitive supply chains. Real problems are formulated into tractable mathematical models, which allow for an analysis of various approaches, and provide insights for better supply chain management. The book provides a unified treatment of these models, presents a critique of the existing results, and points out potential research directions. Attention is focused on solutions - that is, inventory decisions prior and subsequent to information updates and the impact of the quality of information on these decisions. TOC:Inventory and Supply Chain Models with Forecast Updates.- Industry Examples.- Inventory Models with Two Consecutive Delivery Modes.- Inventory Models with Two Consecutive Delivery Modes and Fixed Costs.- Inventory Models with Three Consecutive Delivery Modes.- Multi-Period Supply Contract Management with Forecast Updates.- Purchase Contract Management: Fixing Costs for Forecast Updates.- Purchase Contract Management: Game Framework with Two Players.- Purchase Contract Management: Risk-Aversion Objectives Updates.- Index."

Inventory and Supply Chain Models with Forecast Updates.- Examples from Industry.- Inventory Models with Two Consecutive Delivery Modes.- Inventory Models with Two Consecutive Delivery Modes and Fixed Cost.- Inventory Models with Three Consecutive Delivery Modes.- Multiperiod Quantity-Flexibility Contracts.- Purchase Contract Management: Fixed Exercise Cost.- Purchase Contract Management: Two-Player Games.