The Routledge Companion to Production and Operations Management

In this review of The Routledge Companion to Production and Operations Management, the bottom line is clear: this volume is an authoritative, panoramic reference for researchers, advanced students, and practitioners who need a broad, interdisciplinary view of production and operations management. Edited by Martin K. Starr and Sushil K. Gupta, the book collects international expertise and shows how Production and Operations Management intersects with systems such as healthcare, e-commerce, sustainability and transport, making it the single best choice for readers seeking depth across many application areas.

Key Features

• Panoramic coverage: The book presents a wide survey of the field across eight parts, offering historical context and contemporary perspectives that help readers see the full scope of POM.
• Interdisciplinary focus: Chapters connect production and operations concepts to diverse systems like healthcare, disaster management, hospitality and telecommunications, showing practical relevance.
• International authorship: An international team of experts contributes varied viewpoints, which benefits readers looking for global practices and research directions.
• Foundational and revitalizing chapters: The volume both establishes the historical foundations of POM and revisits long-standing topics to refresh them for current study.
• Research and teaching utility: The structure and depth make the book suitable as a reference for researchers and as supplementary material for graduate-level courses.

Who It's For

The Routledge Companion is best for graduate students, academic researchers, and senior practitioners who need a comprehensive reference that situates production and operations management within larger social and business systems. Its chapter-based format and international contributions make it particularly useful for literature reviews and course planning.

Those seeking a short, practical how-to manual or a beginner textbook with step-by-step templates should look elsewhere; this volume emphasizes panoramic analysis, historical foundations and scholarly perspectives rather than quick procedural checklists.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Broad, interdisciplinary treatment that links POM to sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and transport.
• Curated by experienced editors, delivering a cohesive panorama rather than isolated essays.
• Useful both as a research reference and as advanced course material due to its historical and contemporary coverage.

Cons

• Not designed as a concise practitioner handbook; readers expecting quick templates may find it more theoretical.

Specifications

Title	The Routledge Companion to Production and Operations Management
Series	Routledge Companions in Business, Management and Marketing
Editors / Brand	Martin K. Starr, Sushil K. Gupta
Coverage	History of POM, interdisciplinary applications and revitalized topics
Structure	Divided into eight parts with contributions from international experts
Audience	Researchers, graduate students, senior practitioners

Our Verdict

The Routledge Companion to Production and Operations Management is a strong scholarly resource for anyone who needs a comprehensive, interdisciplinary overview of POM. It delivers value through historical framing, diverse case connections and expert contributions, making it worth acquiring for graduate courses or research libraries even if it is less useful as a quick-start practitioner manual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for classroom use?
Yes. Its structured parts and authoritative chapters make it suitable as supplementary reading for graduate-level courses in production and operations management.

Does the book cover practical industry cases?
It connects POM concepts to many sectors such as healthcare, retail and transport, but its emphasis is on analysis and synthesis rather than step-by-step industry procedures.

Who edited the volume?
The book is edited by Martin K. Starr and Sushil K. Gupta and features chapters from an international team of experts.