Methodologies for providing rapid and effective response to request for quotation (RFQ) of mass customization products

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20225315

Mass-customized production is a paradigm that provides individually customized products and services at a price and time frame comparable to those of mass production. A mass-customized production company should be capable of operating profitably in a time-critical and customer-driven competitive environment. Although the concept of mass-customized production and the related methodologies and computer-aided technologies for improving the planning, execution, and delivery of mass-customized products have been investigated over the past decade, there are neither formal models nor fundamental breakthrough developments in the area of rapid response to customer demands. It is only recently, with the emergence of supply chain management, customer relationship management, and the growing use of the internet, that mass-customized production companies have begun to realize the potential for gaining significant benefits and competitive advantage by improving the companies' ability to rapidly and effectively respond to their customer demands.