The most successful manufacturers are those who adopt an effective and efficient fulfillment strategy. In fact, may have chose the demand-driven rather than supply-driven, meeting the needs of a busy marketplace by building products to order rather then investing in large inventories. Demand-driven manufacturing, by its own nature, necessitates rethinking the traditional manufacturing methods in favor of “lean” manufacturing principles.
This paper discusses the fundamentals for successful demand-driven fulfillment manufacturing, including optimal channel and customer relationships, informed online buying and selling, flexible product configuration and order fulfillment and integrated operational infrastructures.