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Today the Internet provides a real opportunity for demand data and supply capacity data to be visible to all companies within a manufacturing supply chain. Consequently there is a need for manufacturing organisations to explore alternative mechanisms for the management of their operations network, in particular the role of manufacturing planning and control systems. This paper describes current research which examines the classification of manufacturing supply chains and positions Internet‐based applications in order to identify the operations management challenges for the next generation of manufacturing planning and control systems.

Presents an outline of a local pilot project on disease management in Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, UK. Disease management has been a staff college exercise at a national level: the alliance for health in Ollerton involved a purchaser, an acute trust and a practice. Secondary care expertise was used earlier in the disease process to identify patients and to treat them with a more continuous care programme. Disease management began with gastric illness ‐ in examination, review and treatment for H Pylori eradication; extensions are planned to glaucoma and epilepsy. The project involved co‐ordinated investment in building extensions, staff skills and records.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a measurement framework to evaluate the lean readiness level (LRL) and lean systems (LS) within Kuwaiti small and medium‐sized manufacturing industries (K‐SMMIs). A measurement framework which encompasses the quality practices related to LS (processes; planning and control; human resources; top management and leadership; customer relations; and supplier relations) is used to assess the quality practices in K‐SMMIs and determine whether they have the foundation to implement LS.

The authors conducted a comprehensive literature review, semi‐structured interviews with 27 senior managers, and a quantitative survey administered to 50 K‐SMMIs. The responses were entered into SPSS software to conduct a reliability test and independent sample t‐test.

The results indicate that current quality practices within K‐SMMIs are not very supportive towards LS. Many factors are revealed to affect K‐SMMIs with respect to LS, including language barriers, and deficiencies in aspects including quality workers in terms of education and skills; technology; government attention; know‐how regarding LS; market competitiveness; and urgency for adopting LS.

Very limited information is available on LS and QI in Kuwait. The LRL framework should be tested in small and medium‐sized manufacturing industries (SMMIs) that successfully use LS, in order to provide a benchmark. The study's findings can be used as an internal checklist prior to and during lean implementation.

This LS and LRL measurement framework relating to K‐SMMIs represents a unique effort in the area of lean management.

This article describes the development and application of a Web‐based teaching & learning package, Liberation, by Learning Resources at University College Northampton. Rather than discuss the technical aspects of the programme it concentrates on the practical issues around creating and using such a product.