Acknowledgments

This book is a product of a research project conducted between 2002 and 2005 at the Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The project was funded, in part, by the U.K. government through the Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI) to study the impacts of disruptions on supply chain operations. In addition, the following companies have contributed funds through the Integrated Supply Chain Management Program at the CTL: Avaya, Helix, Intel, Lucent, Monsanto, Proctor & Gamble, and Texas Instruments.

The project was directed by Jim Rice of the CTL. Jim contributed with leadership, vision, and able day-to-day management of the project. He also managed the interviews and the interaction with the many of the companies and executives who contributed to the research effort and to the book. In addition, he edited, commented and pushed. Without him this book would not have been written.

Dan Dolgin offered ideas, comments and editing throughout the project. Andrea and Dana Meyer organized the material, added many examples, and put on paper many of the early drafts. Scott Campbell edited various versions of the text and made invaluable suggestions. Nicole Blizek collected and checked references. Yali, my brother, was very generous with his time, providing unique access to senior Israeli executives.

Many students participated in the project and the fruits of their labor show up in many parts of the book. They include Abby Benson of the 2005 class of the Master of Engineering in Logistics (MLOG) at MIT, Deena Disraelly (MLOG 2004), Chris Picket (MLOG 2003), Reshma Lensing (MLOG 2003), Chris Hamel (MLOG 2003), Sophi Pochard of the 2004 Technology and Policy Program at MIT, and David Opolon of Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris and Federico Caniato of the Politecnico di Milano, who were visiting students at MIT at the time.

The interactions with Dr. Helen Peck and Professor Martin Christopher of Cranfield University were informative and useful.

Several of my colleagues at MIT participated in the various conferences conducted as part of this study. They include Professors Richard DeNeufville, John Deutch, Dan Hastings, Dan Roos, Joe Sussman, and Steve van Evera.

Many corporate executives have contributed significant time and ideas to the research effort. In particular, Steve Lund of Intel, Dr. Debra Elkins of General Motors and Phil Spayd of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection were actively involved in various stages of the project. Additionally, many members of the UPS organization shared their experience with the research team generously and willingly.

Other executives, researchers and government officials devoted time and provided insights. They include Dave Grubb and Mike Princi of Accenture, Bob Scholtz of Agilent Technologies, Steve Anderson of Anderson Risk Analysis, Earl Agron and Chris Corrado of APL, Dean Harper of Avaya, Paul Tagliamonte of Bose, Phil Licari of Boston Scientific, Tim Boden, Ian Hamilton, Dennis Luckett, and Frank Stone of BT, Robert Gecielewski of C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Jamie MacIntosh of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the U.K. Cabinet Office, David Lacey of Consignia, Steve Potter of CSX, Con O’Sullivan of Cummins, Bruce Riggs, and Stuart Smith of Dell, Ofer Lichevski of Egged, Nissim Malki of El Al Airlines, Shlomo Sherf of Electra, Dave Hempen of Energizer, Douglas Witt of FedEx, Mark Everson of Ford Motor, John Dinsmore of GE Aircraft Engines, Rick Dufour, and Datta Kulkarni of General Motors, Tom Cummings, Jim Hutton and Don Patch of Gillette, Rob Fantini of Hasbro, Charles Chappel and Janet Rosa of Helix Technology, Tony Gentilucci, Patrick Scholler and Fred Smith of Hewlett Packard, Glen Gracia of Hill and Knowlton, Bob Byrne of IBM, Jay Hopman, Jim Kellso, Mary Murphy-Hoye, and Dan Purtell of Intel, Mike DiLorenzo of Jabil Circuit, Peter Gartman of Limited Brands, Vince Freeman of the London Metropolitan Police, Joe Bellefeuille, Kapil Bansal, Rob Draver, Dan Fischer, Hector Lozano, Sita Nathan, and Steve Sherman of Lucent Technologies, Tim Cracknell of Marsh McLennan, Cleo Pointer of Masterfoods, Steve Wooley of Nike, Mike Wolfe of North River Consulting Group, Rich Widup of Pfizer, Larry Curran of Pinkerton Consulting and Investigations, Bill Castle of Procter and Gamble, Joe DeLuca and Rob Shepard of Reebok, Scott Dedic of Seagate Technology, Mike Lech of Shaw’s Supermarkets, Alan Fletcher and Bill Tenney of Target Stores, Amit Wohl of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries, Keith Hodnett, Ann Lister, Rod McPherson and Tom Shields of Texas Instruments, Bob Bergman, Jordan Colletta, Tom Flynn, Daniel Franz, Dick Germer, Chris Holt, Joe Liana, Dan McMackin, Debbie Meisel, Dan Silva, Dan Silvernale, Marty Stamps, Ken Sternad and Albert Wright of United Parcel Service, Vice Admiral Vivien S. Crea of the U.S. Coast Guard, Charlie McCarthy of Volpe National Transportation Center (U.S. Department of Transportation), and Dee Biggs of Welch’s.

While I was writing this book, my colleagues and the staff at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics held the fort ably, demonstrating that the best assets of any organization are its good people. Thanks go to Chris Caplice, Joe Coughlin, Ken Cottrill, Jarrod Goentzel, Larry Lapide, and David Riquier. I am particularly grateful to the capable administrative staff at CTL, led by the resourceful Mary Gibson with Lisa Emmerich, Will Garre, Kim Mann, Paula Magliozzi, Nancy Martin, Becky Schneck-Allen, and Karen van Nederpelt.

My wife, Anat, provided encouragement, editorial comments, daily shipments of coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts, and loving support throughout.

My sincere thanks to them all.

Naturally, all information provided and views expressed here are my sole responsibility.