Form postponement postulates that changes in product form occur at the latest possible point along a production and distribution process. The potential benefits of form postponement have been widely investigated in the literature on the subject. However, as often happens with developing research fields, conflicting or hard-to-relate findings are quite frequent in this literature. In this paper, we demonstrate that past research findings can be reconciled by distinguishing among three mutually exclusive types of form postponement. We build this thesis by developing a typological theory that formalizes how, why and under which assumptions each type of form postponement affects inventory holding costs, delivery lead times, processing costs, transportation costs, quality conformance and order specification flexibility. Directions for future research and implications for practice are finally discussed.

Which form postponement? A typological theory of form postponement effects on operational performances

FORZA, CIPRIANO;TRENTIN, ALESSIO
2007

Abstract

Form postponement postulates that changes in product form occur at the latest possible point along a production and distribution process. The potential benefits of form postponement have been widely investigated in the literature on the subject. However, as often happens with developing research fields, conflicting or hard-to-relate findings are quite frequent in this literature. In this paper, we demonstrate that past research findings can be reconciled by distinguishing among three mutually exclusive types of form postponement. We build this thesis by developing a typological theory that formalizes how, why and under which assumptions each type of form postponement affects inventory holding costs, delivery lead times, processing costs, transportation costs, quality conformance and order specification flexibility. Directions for future research and implications for practice are finally discussed.
2007
Logística Integral: Factor Estratégico en la Competitividad
9788461190218
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/2446714
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