Defining, Managing and Resolving Logistics Trade-offs

摘要

The trade-off concept is central to logistics management, but it is only in recent years that its role has been extended to support the optimization of the entire delivery system, as now reflected in the lean and agile supply concepts. However, whereas lean supply has been primarily concerned with the reduction of internal sources of supply chain variation, the demand for customized products with uncertain demand has resulted in what is commonly referred to as agile supply, or fast response. In line with historic patterns of evolution hybrid supply chain strategies have now emerged that can be directly related to the concept of the focused factory . Similarly, there is opportunity to relate empirical evidence with earlier concepts, theories and tools and thereby unify the learning gained through such developments. This paper takes a historical perspective in systematically relating previous research and practice in formulating a conceptual model. The practical underpinning of this model is demonstrated through the linking of TOC and TRIZ thinking process tools in the form of a modified conflict resolution diagram.