Logistics Postponement For Domestic Limousine Supply Chain

Along with the arrival of mass customization, traditional mass production of the car industry has already can't adapt to new situation with quick change. The domestic car industry is bearing challenge of uncertain requirement and problem of high inventory. Postponement strategy is a valid supply chain strategy that can resolve above-mentioned problem. Postponement can be divided into two strategies: manufacturing postponement and logistics postponement. The international application for postponement has become more and more popular, but its application in domestic car industry is just at beginning. Limousine is more advanced in domestic car industry, the challenge and problem of it is also obviously. In a word, limousine can be seen as deputy. So we choose limousine as the study object.In the basis of introducing domestic and international related research history and present condition, the study discussed the value of logistics postponement systemic. The logistics postponement includes two kinds of postponement based on assemble and on time.It can improve the value of supply chain effective by combining assemble postponement and time postponement. In detail, under the quick information of customer's demand, logistics postponement make the supply curve tend near the need curve as far as possible by the adjustment of logistics. So it can alleviate the uncertainty of demand. Because total estimate ratio is precise than individual estimate ratio, logistics postponement can reduce the total safety inventory. It's not better to just reduce the quantity of storage and should decide the right quantity according to the fact of supply chain. There is a best point that can maximize the value of postponement.The reason of poor domestic manufacturing postponement condition lies in some abuse of limousine supply chain, such as poor module supply and long response time. Advance such condition require a long time. The reason of poor domestic logistics postponement condition lies in current sales pattern. To change the sales pattern is equal to change the sales thinking, so it's easier to apply logistics postponement than apply manufacturing postponement. By the Profile Analysis method of Pagh and Cooper(1998),the study compare the four postponement strategy, including full postponement, manufacturing postponement, logistics postponement and speculation. Speculation is a strategy that is used broad now. Full postponement and manufacturing postponement are strategy that will be use in the special needs future. The four strategies delegate all supply chain strategies. The result of Profile Analysis shows that logistics postponement is more suitable for the domestic limousine supply chain. So we choose logistics postponement for domestic limousine.Further, according to the essence of logistics postponement, the study provides some detailed way in distribution and transportation to realize the logistics postponement, including the following contents:(1)Reduce the layer and the amount of retailing channel. Firstly, we need to confirm the right distribution center by location model. Secondly, reduce the layer and amount of distribute, only the nuclear distribute and few second distribute can be saved.(2)Improve the speed and veracity of order. The car manufacturer need to cooperate with distributes in the supply chain, build information shared system based on Internet/Intranet. At the same time, provide training to distributes and elevate their ability in order collection and market analysis is necessary.(3)Build exclusive shop for the limousine. Exclusive shop is suitable for logistics postponement. Excellent service of exclusive shop will eliminate the cost of lost sales of postponement logistics, so express its value. It's feasible to transform the maintain station into exclusive shop.(4)Realize the lean logistics before CODP by process analysis. The role of process analysis is to reduce waste. It's necessary to take right transportation, and cooperate with the third logistics provider is not a bad way .(5)Manage the information system. Build a information shared system by Internet and Intranet can assure the speed, veracity of order place and assure the implement of postponement logistics. We can use the experience of international limousines and select software such as TransCAD and Dismoo. Integrate the information with the 3PL is also necessary.(6)Realize the agile logistics after CODP by optimize the transportation route. Many methods can be used such as shortest route method, save method, Quick Responsive, Cross Docking, and use the same provider with other limousine. It's necessary to confirm the right transportation pattern and outsourcing the transportation to 3PL is available.At last, the study gives an example to explain further how the logistics postponement apply and bring value.The study has some meaning in theory and practice. It can be seen as reference for the selection and application of postponement. It can improve the whole performance of limousine supply chain also.