ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Mr. Jun Suzuki is the patriarch of Japanese logistics. We met during my first logistics study tour in Japan in 1988. He has been my logistics mentor ever since. Many of the pictures of Japanese and European warehousing operations come from his extensive photo gallery of warehousing operations.

My wife Pat has been my writing partner from the time I wrote my master’s thesis. She is brilliantly gifted in editing for an audience, and is a God-send of a life and writing partner.

My son Andrew is currently finishing his doctorate in Decision Sciences at Duke University. I think he was also born a linguist, and he implores me to choose my words carefully. Though humbling, his editing was an invaluable contribution to the book. He is a God-send of a thought, research and analytics partner.

World-Class Warehousing is illustrated with more than one hundred photos taken inside some of the world’s best warehouse operations. Those long time clients and study tour partners include American Cancer Society, Avon, Bertelsmann, BIC, Boots, BP, Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Ford, Happinet, Honda, L.L. Bean, KAO, Kirin, K-Mart, Lifeway, Marks & Spencer, Metro, Mitsubishi, Netto, Nike, NTT, NuSkin, Payless, Otto, Oxxo, Scroll, Shiseido, Sony, Suntory, Swagelok, Rio Tinto, Rittal, the United States Armed Services, and Verizon. They have been very accommodating to share their experiences in warehousing and logistics.

The RightChain™ principals around the world—Dr. Matt Anderson, Angel Becerra, Henry Brunekreef, Matsukawa-san, Masaji Nakano, Ricardo Sojo, and Mary Wong—continually encourage my research, teaching, and writing.

In our consulting and training, we have been blessed to work with some of the world’s best and brightest individuals and corporations. They have encouraged and supported me to no end.

   Steve Laky, Rick Glasson and Abbott.

   Bill Costa and American Cancer Society.

   Steve Spiva, Jack Gross, and Applied Materials.

   Jane Houze, Bill Hightower and AT&T.

   Roosevelt Tolliver, Jim Lofgren and Avon.

   Carliss Graham, Greg Otter, Durwood Knight, Richard McCrosky, Raylene Morris, Caroline Thompson and BP.

   Diane Mullican and Carrier.

   Dave Hopkins, Steve Westphal, Kevin Fox, Ted Bozarth, Brett Frankenburg and Coca-Cola Consolidated.

   John Sibilia, Josue Munoz and Colgate.

   Lynn Barratt, Steve Erbe, Carmen Guerero, Karen Hall, Tom Nabie, Bruce Terry, Hal Welsh and Disney.

   Dan Krouse and Hallmark.

   Sean Garrett, Dave Eidam and Hamilton Sunstrand.

   Jim Roach, Chuck Hamilton, Bruce Smith, Juan Streeter, Kathy Howell and Honda.

   Tammy Ryan, Jim Sylvester and H.P. Hood.

   Dave Wilford and Invitrogen.

   Debbie Postle and LAM Research.

   Dave Lavesque, Jim Pierce, Tom Galanti and LiDestri.

   Mike Harry and Lifeway.

   Susan McLain and LL Bean.

   Carlos, Rodrigo, Ignacio and Mas X Menos (now Wal-Mart Central America).

   Lou Arace, Dave Burton and Nutrisystem.

   Jorge, Carlos, Miguel, Nelly, Sergio, Rafael, Bernie, Eduardo, Paulina, and Oxxo.

   Daryl Pavelqua, Mary Boatright, James Wichern and Payless.

   Danny DiPerna, Rob Grossman, Kathy Godin, Ed Delmastro, Bill Kelly, Andy Minor and Pratt & Whitney.

   Mark Ward, Frank Encinas, and Raytheon.

   Scott Singer, Russell Hodson and Rio Tinto.

   David Phillips and Rittal.

   Sean Stucker, Bill Burgess, Greg Flack, Greg Olson and Schwan’s Food Company.

   Eric Eber, Mike Graska, Matt LoPicolo and Swagelok.

   Rex Taylor and Taylor Logistics.

   Sam Campagna, Jackie DeMatos, Jan Salewski, Scott Singer and United Technologies.

   Matt Anderson, Ouris Pellegrin and the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.