Lead Time Reduction In A Made To Order Environment

Globalization has given the customer greater control over the supply chain,to the extent that they are now demanding the quick delivery of high quality goods.This has undoubtedly lead to a more ’customer driven supply chain’ whereby the suppliers are always looking for new and improve ways optimize their supply chain,in order to satisf their customers’ demand.’Made to Order Job Shop Environment’ is an example of these kinds of supply chains.One of the most renown customer-driven supply chains strategy is the Lean Manufacturing theory,’Lead-time reduction’.Lead-time reduction is a very broad strategy which aimed at overall wastes removal,smooth running of the supply chain and quick optimal deliver of goods and services.This research paper is part of a two and half year degree program.The research case of this paper is a real-life company known in this paper as Company J.Company J is a Made to order Job shop environment,whose main product is winter jackets.Through interviews with the company personnel,questionnaires,and observation,the present situation of the company is presented.Further analysis of its present situation is done with the use of value stream mapping tools,namely Process Activity Mapping,Supply Chain Response Matrix and Quality Filter Mapping.These tools illustrate the main wastes within the supply chain is ’waiting.’ This waste is evident throughout the supply chain.The researcher has deduced that through reduction or elimination of instances of’waiting waste’,Company J will be successful in Lead-time reduction and overall smooth running of the supply chain.