Postponement

The term postponement (English to postpone - move ) or postponement strategy is used in logistics and in industrial production and is generally available for the postponement of a decision to use better information due to a shorter forecast period can.

Postponement strategy in production

In the production is meant by the postponement strategy, the possible late, customized differentiation of a standard product in different variants ( assembly postponement ). This variety of the postponement strategy is also called manufacturing postponement.

This differentiation occurs only after receipt of order. By the orders are anonymous customer, based on future sales forecasts, standardized products ( components or modules) made ​​(Push controller). After placing an order, the standardized products are customized in different variants final assembly (pull control). The decoupling point ( decoupling point, order- penetration -point, destination point or variant Freeze Point) represents the transition from customer to customer-oriented independent production

Postponement strategy in logistics / distribution

In the logistic postponement strategy ( geographic postponement ) are already differentiated products as long as possible stored in central warehouses. The transport should be as late as possible, only after customers orders, done. This variety of the postponement strategy is also known as Geographical postponement. Postponement strategies play in the future, particularly in trade a crucial role in improving the supply chain.

A product-related postponement is the urgent requirement for efficient mass customization ( mass customization ). Objective of mass customization is to produce customized products, but at a cost that is no higher or only slightly higher than mass-produced standard products.

Areas of application

Often, this strategy can be found in the need for synchronous production ( just-in- time production, JIT), or sequence- synchronous production ( just- in-sequence production; JIS ) of the material provisioning application. In the automotive industry is conceivable as special customer specification, for example, the installation of high-quality leather seats.