Produces products to customer specifications after an order has been received

Term
Definition
The ease of which a product can be madeTerm
Definition
The process of defining all of the product's characteristicsTerm
Definition
The process of establishing all the characteristics of the service, including physical, sensual, and psychological benefitsTerm
Definition
The process of studying the practices of companies considered "best-in-class" and comparing your company's performance against theirsTerm
Definition
The process of disassembling a product to analyze it's design featuresTerm
Early Supplier Involvement (ESI)Definition
Involving suppliers in the early stages of product designTerm
Definition
A technique used to compute the amount of goods a company needs to sell to cover it's costsTerm
Definition
Costs a company incurs regardless of how much it producesTerm
Definition
Costs that vary directly with the amount of units producedTerm
Design For Manufacture (DFM)Definition
A series of guidelines to follow in order to produce a product easily and profitablyTerm
Definition
A series of stages that products pass through in their lifetime, characterized by changing product demands over timeTerm
Definition
An approach that brings together multifunction teams in the early phase of product design in order to simultaneously design the product and the processTerm
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The concept of using components of old products in the production of new onesTerm
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Processes used to produce a variety of products with different processing requirements in low volumesTerm
Definition
Processes used to produce one or few standardized products in high volumeTerm
Definition
A type of process used to make a one-at-a-time product exactly to customer specificationsTerm
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A type of process used to produce a small quantity of products in groups or batches based on customer orders or specificationsTerm
Definition
A type of process used to produce a large volume of a standardized productTerm
Definition
A type of process that operates continually to produce a high volume of a fully standardized productTerm
Definition
A technique used for evaluating a process in terms of the sequence of steps from inputs to outputs with the goal of improving its designTerm
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A chart showing the sequence of steps in producing the product or serviceTerm
Definition
Longest task in the processTerm
Definition
Produces standard products and services for immediate sale or deliveryTerm
Assemble-to-order StrategyDefinition
Produces standard components that can be combined to customer specificationsTerm
Definition
Produces products to customer specifications after an order has been receivedTerm
Process Performance MetricsDefinition
Measurements of different process characteristics that tell how a process is performingTerm
Definition
Average amount of time it takes a product to move through the systemTerm
Definition
Ratio of throughput time to value-added timeTerm
Definition
Ratio of time a resource is used to time it is available for useTerm
Definition
Ratio of actual output to standard outputTerm
Information Technology (IT)Definition
Technology that enables storage, processing, and communication of information within and between firmsTerm
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)Definition
Large software programs used for planning and coordinating all resources throughout the entire enterpriseTerm
Global Positioning Systems (GPS)Definition
A type of wireless technology that uses satellite transmission to communicate exact locationsTerm
Radio Frequency Identification (REID)Definition
A wireless technology that uses memory chips equipped with radio antennas attached to objects used to transmit streams of dataTerm
Definition
Using Machinery to perform work without human operatorsTerm
Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS)Definition
A type of automated system that combines the flexibility of intermittent operations with the efficiency of continuous operationsTerm
Numerically Controlled (NC) MachineDefinition
A machine controlled by a computer that can perform a variety of tasksTerm
Computer-aided Design (CAD)Definition
A system that uses computer graphics to design new productsTerm
Computer-integrated Manufacturing (CIM)Definition
The integration of product design, process planning, and manufacturing using an integrated computer systemTerm
Definition
A grouping a physical, sensual, and psychological benefits that are purchased together as part of the service

Assemble-to-order (ATO) is a business production strategy where products that are ordered by customers are produced quickly and are customizable to a certain extent. It typically requires that the basic parts of the product are already manufactured but not yet assembled. Once an order is received, the parts are assembled quickly and the final product is sent to the customer.

Key Takeaways

  • Assemble-to-order (ATO) is a business strategy where products are quickly produced from component parts once the order is confirmed.
  • Assemble-to-order is a combination of make-to-order and make-to-stock.
  • In a typical ATO approach, the costs of assembling the product from its components are negligible, but the costs of making the different components can be substantial.
  • A PC-maker that receives orders and then assembles customizable computers using components like keyboards, monitors, and motherboards is using an assemble-to-order strategy.

Understanding Assemble-to-Order (ATO)

The assemble-to-order strategy is a hybrid between the make-to-stock strategy (MTS) and the make-to-order strategy (MTO). A make-to-stock strategy is one where products are fully produced in advance. The idea is to build an inventory that matches expected or anticipated consumer demand. This method would consist of setting a production level, building up inventory, and then attempting to sell as much assembled product as possible. It's used mostly for high-volume goods, consumables, and items that can be bought in bulk or as a single unit.

A make-to-order strategy is one where products are manufactured once the order has been received. Production is driven by demand and items are only produced when orders are confirmed. In other words, the supply chain operation does not begin until there is evidence of sufficient customer demand. This strategy is often employed for high-end goods or items made individually or in small batches.

The ATO strategy attempts to combine the benefits of both make-to-order and make-to-stock—getting products into customers' hands quickly while allowing for the product to be adapted or altered in certain ways, as per customer request. In most cases, the time and costs associated with building the product from its components are minimal. However, the time and costs to build the components, which are usually ordered from a supplier, can be considerable.

Enabled by technology, advancements in production processes and inventory management systems have played a big part in making assemble-to-order strategies a reality. Add cheaper methods of shipping products, and the strategy has been a boon for product customization opportunities.

Pros and Cons Assemble-to-Order (ATO)

Like many methods that chart a middle course, assemble-to-order has both advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

  • No need to invest in materials and supplies, and storage for them

  • Orders made to customer specifics

  • Less risk of having unsold units on hand

Cons

  • Risk of lost sales due to low supply

  • Potentially longer lead times to produce goods

Example of Assemble-to-Order (ATO)

Consider a manufacturer of personal computers. It might have all of the essential parts of a computer—motherboards, graphic cards, processors, monitors, keyboards—in stock and already manufactured. The company depends on various suppliers for these components.

When orders for new PCs arrive, it is easy for the company to assemble and customize the computers using the various components. The process is driven by customer demand, however, and until the order arrives, the components sit on shelves.

Which manufacturing process is used to produce items to each customer's specifications?

Make-to-order manufacturing, or mass customization, is a production process where a company creates products to meet the specifications of customer orders. Job shops and other specialized manufacturing facilities might use this process, which allows them to design and create a new product for each customer order.

Under what production goods are produced to specific customer orders?

Make to Order (MTO) is a production technique in which producers start manufacturing a product only after the customer places an order for it. Unlike Make to Stock, MTO does not require companies to hold inventories of finished goods. Therefore, there is no risk of wastage of inventory.

Where production is carried on according to the orders of the customer it is called?

Assemble-to-order (ATO) is a business production strategy where products that are ordered by customers are produced quickly and are customizable to a certain extent.

What is production to order?

Produce to order is an approach to production where the production of an item begins only after a confirmed customer order is received. By using mass customisation techniques, it is possible to include a customer's specific requirements into the product.