Designed as a textbook for postgraduate students of management, this sixth edition, which has undergone a marked revision, deals with the entire spectrum of Operations Management (OM). The text presents OM as a powerful tool for achieving organizational goals and gaining competitive advantage. In the process, it helps students become effective managers in today's competitive global environment. Throughout, the major theme is on processes, the fundamental unit of work in all organizations, and the book demonstrates the role of processes in every phase of businesses. It gives a skilful analysis on the various ways to manage them effectively for better decision making and competitive advantage. Blending the latest in strategic issues with proven analytic techniques, the text emphasizes consistency between corporate strategies and management decisions about operations and processes. Tools and techniques woven into the text show ways to solve problems and develop tactics to achieve organizational goals.