Tourism is a huge and dynamic industry that is comprised of a wide variety of service businesses that reflect the same dynamics and priorities that a manufacturer would have for operations planning (OP) and supply chain management (SCM). One such service business is the cruise ship sector in which vacationers travel via these types of vessels to various destinations. While manufacturers produce tangible products and wastes, service companies also produce waste, but their products are intangible. For example, the product that a personal trainer might produce is a healthier client. Operations Managers (OM) in both industries share similar interests in eliminating waste and delivering quality products. The two main intangible products that the vacationer (end user) buys, and a cruise ship company "manufactures" and delivers, are pleasure and relaxation - the total experience that allows vacationers to "suspend" their everyday reality for a period of time and immerse themselves in pleasurable experiences. The mission of the cruise ship industry is to deliver this experience to them in a way that surpasses their customers' expectations, and it depends a great deal on the manufacturing industry to make this possible. Comparable Dynamics and Priorities in Manufacturing and Service The movement and connection of goods and services from the point of origin, or the original source, to the end user is referred to as "the supply chain". Supply Chain Management is a part of the Operations Management that involves the effective management of many inter-firm processes such as:
- Supplier/Vendor relationship management
- Order Processing
- Information Systems management
- Sourcing and Procurement
- Production Scheduling
- Inventory Management
- Warehousing and Distribution
- Customer Services
- Environmentally sustainable practices