The purpose of this paper is to propose a tool, the Agile Supply Chain Transformation Matrix (ASCTM), and the implementation methodology for a systematic approach to achieve agility in the supplier-buyer supply chain.
Notes the importance of new internal supply chains being properly interfaced with the marketplace. Suggests that the appropriate way forward is to design and implement a ``leagile supply chain''. Whereas leanness may be achieved by eliminating non-value added time, agility usually requires the additional reduction of value-added time via production technology breakthroughs. Demonstrates how th …
As supply chain management has become more strategic (rather than transactional) in nature the need for a more integrated perspective of how products, and processes should be aligned with strategic decisions to enhance competitive advantage has been amplified. The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of how this alignment should be done.
Firms operating in an international environment face a host of uncertainties that make it difficult to meet deadlines reliably. To be reliable in an uncertain and changing environment, firms must be able to quickly respond to changes. The ability to do this in a useful time frame is called agility. Unfortunately, measures taken to increase agility often lead to increases in complexity, which wo…
Automated warehouse equipment is often regarded as being inflexible, and yet its use continues to rise even though markets are becoming increasingly volatile. The purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons for, and nature of, warehouse automation implementations in order to further this understanding.
Since the Second World War, ports have been going through an evolution which the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) refers to as generations. The generation of a port reflects whether the approach adopted by port authorities/operators in developing their activities is likely to be reactive or proactive. These activities start with the traditional ones (cargo loading and…
The purpose of this paper is to introduce a methodological approach to develop customized products which offer true customer value and achieve superior competitive advantage.
In this paper, we present a planning and control framework for manufacture-to-order environments that enables and supports agile-based discrete parts manufacturing. The characteristic elements of our framework are that it is decentralized, logistics and business oriented, and that it recognizes that more detailed and more reliable data become available as orders advance through the different ma…
Online, on-demand and real-time availability of information to all members of a manufacturing system enables them to be agile and in the best position to react quickly, efficiently, synchronously, and collectively to the changing market. This paper proposes an integrated web-based logistics management system for agile supply demand network design (ASDN).
The highly competitive electronics manufacturing marketplace demands that suppliers provide low‐cost, high‐quality products to their customers in a timely fashion. Shortened product life cycles and increasingly global competition have caused traditional manufacturers to focus on their company core competencies, such as product design and development, choosing to outsource the actual manufac…