The impact of schedule stability on supplier responsiveness is investigated by comparing schedule and calloff quantities for two automotive assemblers who both use the same supplier. Components for the two assemblers are manufactured by the supplier in cells which are focused by customer. The...

Organizes the wide‐ranging literature on “new wave manufacturing” factors which impact on the flow of materials into six themes which are related to a conceptual model. The six themes are: the effects of under‐capacity loading; the role of pull scheduling; the reduction of variability;...