Leaning Towards Agile in 21^(st) Century

Background: During the last fifteen years there ha s been an increased drive for organisations to reduce costs. From a production po int, this has often centred on lean manufacturing and JIT waste elimination proc esses. However, in 1991, the Iaccocca Institute Bethlehem P.A commissioned a re port specifically to analyse the changing nature of the marketplace. As a result , in the following year, the Agile Manufacturing Forum was initiated and the ter m ’agile or responsive manufacturing’ was first introduced within a business env ironment in order to meet the customers changing demands within in a volatile an d turbulent market. Aims: The paper seeks to examine the effect that ’lean thinking’ has upon the supply chain and analyse the effect that this has within a constantly changing m arketplace. It will further examine how an agile supply chain will impact upon the supplier. In addition, the paper will explore the differences between lean and agile philosophies and the impact that this has on the buyer and supplier re lationship. Using a case study approach the paper will make a detailed comparison between we stern organisations and Asian companies-typically China and Malaysia-to fo cus on the utilisation of ’best practice’ techniques and the impact that these h ave on organisations within the supply chain. Objectives: · Identify the effects on the supplier and buyer (first tier) and subsequent su ppliers within the supply or logistical chain. · Analyse the link between customer and buyer and the relevant theories of diff ering relationships from adversarial to partnership collaboration · Confirm which type of marketplace ’lean & agile (responsive supply) ’ can ef fectively operate · Examine the effects and benefits on the western and Asian organisations (buye r & seller) when operating within a responsive supply chain Summary: The authors will review existing literature and methodology and will co mbine analytical theories with practical case studies.

Background: During the last fifteen years there ha s been an increased drive for organisations to reduce costs. From a production po int, this has often centred on lean manufacturing and JIT waste elimination proc esses. However, in 1991, the Iaccocca Institute Bethlehem P.A commissioned a re port specifically to analyse the changing nature of the marketplace. As a result , in the following year, the Agile Manufacturing Forum was initiated and the ter m agile or responsive manufacturing was first intr...