Selection of decoupling points in supply chains using a knowledge-based approach

As consumer affluence and desire for customized products and services at affordable prices and shorter lead times continue to accelerate, supply chain operators are facing increasing challenges of becoming both physically efficient (to enable the delivery of low cost) and flexible (to enable market-responsiveness). In order to meet these challenges, organizations are devising supply chain operation strategies that enable them to gain the benefits of physical efficiency of mass production and the customer focus of mass customization. A key to gaining these benefits lies in the selection of appropriate decoupling points in the supply chain. Decoupling points lie on the push—pull boundary. The selection of decoupling points requires knowledge from a range of different experts. The research reported in this paper used knowledge-based techniques to bring together knowledge from the viewpoints of different experts in the selection of decoupling points in supply chains. A knowledge model in the form of a network of production rules is presented. Results derived from applying the knowledge model to the case studies show similar trends to published literature