A Perspective on Two Decades of Rapid Modeling It is an honor for me to be asked to write a foreword to the Proceedings of the 1st Rapid Modeling Conference. I congratulate the conference organizers and program committee on the success of their efforts to hold the ?rst ever conference on Rapid Modeling.

Theory Pieces and Review.- Managerial Decision Making and Lead Times: The Impact of Cognitive Illusions.- Queueing Networks Modeling Software for Manufacturing.- A Review of Decomposition Methods for Open Queueing Networks.- Modelling and Simulation.- Parsimonious Modeling and Forecasting of Time Series drifted by Autoregressive Noise.- Forecast of the Traffic and Performance Evaluation of the BMT Container Terminal (Bejaia’s Harbor).- A Dynamic Forecasting and Inventory Management Evaluation Approach.- Performance Evaluation of Process Strategies Focussing on Lead Time Reduction Illustrated with an Existing Polymer Supply Chain.- A Framework for Economic and Environmental Sustainability and Resilience of Supply Chains.- An Integrative Approach To Inventory Control.- Rapid Modeling of Express Line Systems for Improving Waiting Processes.- Integrating Kanban Control with Advance Demand Information: Insights from an Analytical Model.- Rapid Modelling in Manufacturing System Design Using Domain Specific Simulators.- The Best of Both Worlds - Integrated Application of Analytic Methods and Simulation in Supply Chain Management.- Rapid Modeling In A Lean Context.- Case Study and Action Research.- The Impact of Lean Management on Business Level Performance and Competitiveness.- Reducing Service Process Lead-Time Through Inter-Organisational Process Coordination.- Is There a Relationship Between VC Firm Business Process Flow Management and Investment Decisions?.- What Causes Prolonged Lead-Times in Courts of Law?.- Logistics Clusters - How Regional Value Chains Speed Up Global Supply Chains.- Survey and Longitudinal Research.- Measuring the Effects of Improvements in Operations Management.- Managing Demand Through the Enablers of Flexibility: The Impact of Forecasting andProcess Flow Management.- Threats of Sourcing Locally Without a Strategic Approach: Impacts on Lead Time Performances.- Improving Lead Times Through Collaboration With Supply Chain Partners: Evidence From Australian Manufacturing Firms.

This proceedings volume of selected papers presented at the 1st Rapid Modelling Conference "Increasing Competitiveness – Tools and Mindset" gives a state-of-the-art overview of current research and new developments in the field of rapid modelling linked with lead time reduction. Rapid Modelling is generally based on queuing theory, but other mathematical modelling techniques are of interest, as are simulation models to facilitate the transfer of knowledge from theory to application, providing the theoretical foundations for successful lead time reduction. The interested reader (researcher as well as practitioner) should have a good overview of current activity in this field. Rapid Modelling for Increasing Competitiveness suggests that companies which are equipped for speed, with innovative processes, will outperform their slower competitors in many industries. Furthermore, this work also contributes to the scientific fields of operations management, production management, supply chain management, industrial engineering and operations research. The research papers presented in this book can be used to support the exchange of knowledge – between researchers, as well as practitioners – on the subject of increasing competitiveness through speed. Rapid Modelling for Increasing Competitiveness is supported by the EU Seventh Framework Programme – The People Programme – Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways Project (No. 217891) "How revolutionary queuing based modelling software helps keeping jobs in Europe. The creation of a lead time reduction software that increases industry competitiveness and supports academic research."