Agile manufacturing-the role of rapid response logistics

As producers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers seek ever more effective ways of bringing products to market so they increasingly turn to examining their supply chains to find ways to reduce costs and investment, particularly in working capital. They also turn to time compression of their logistics to improve market responsiveness and avoid potential stock obsolescence. Today creation of the ideal logistics chain has stopped the traditional manufacturers stance of long low cost production runs for stock which is then called off when it is needed. Instead companies have now recut their logistics and production loading to respond rapidly to demand when either a consumer removes a product from the retailers shelf or decides to buy a new car. The UK is seen as world leader in this vital area of responsive logistics.