ISSN:
1573-9724
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
Abstract Several researchers have studied the benefits of product and process design that calls for delaying the differentiation of products. Previous research has focused on products having only one point of differentiation. However, in reality most product families have several points of differentiation. In this paper, we develop two models to study products with more than one point of differentiation. In each model, we examine the benefits of delayed differentiation at each of these points, and derive the necessary conditions when one type of delayed differentiation is more beneficial than the other. Our analysis indicates that demand variabilities, correlations and the relative magnitudes of the lead times play an important role in determining which point of differentiation should be delayed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018565917103
Permalink