The state of automotive make-to-order: Poor demand picture and legacy systems delay progress toward custom configurations

摘要

Make-to-order is a manufacturing process wherein raw material or component procurement doesn't begin-or at the least, the product isn't finished-until the actual customer order is received. Today's producers of the kind of high-value goods typically made "to-order" still have to balance the need for efficient inventory, purchasing, and scheduling policies with the imperative to-as the cliche goes- give the customer what it wants, how it wants it, and when it wants it. But with technology advances of the last five years, some say producing goods to-order without penalizing the customer with long delivery times is increasingly possible.