Supply Chain Postponement Strategy Model for Mass Customization

In order to bring the overall efficiency of supply chain into full play and provide the best production strategy for manufacturers, the cost relationships in general stage and customized stage are analyzed, and a supply chain postponement strategy model aimed at the minimum total cost of manufacturer is established by using queuing theory according to the characteristics of supply chain delay manufacturing activities for mass customization, and customers' personalized requirements and waiting time. The proposed strategy model mainly studies the relationships between production costs and parameters of component commonality differentiation point and inventory level for the manufacturers in mass customization production. It obtains the minimum total cost of manufacturers by using the heuristic algorithm to determine the optimal ratio of differentiation and the best inventory level of component commonality, and provides an effective decision-making tool for manufacturers. The results of a case study show that the ratio of differentiation differs with the inventory level of component commonality, and the optimal ratio of differentiation is in between 0.45-0.65; when the inventory level and differentiation point of component commonality are 19 and 0.60, respectively, the minimum total cost (155.857 yuan) of manufacturer is achieved.