Configure-To-Order Services Provided by Supply Chain Agencies

Configure to order is a critical service area that requires great ability to make and deliver industrial products that are customized according to specific customer needs. This process has to guarantee complete customer satisfaction irrespective of demands made. Therefore it requires robust systems and solutions that offer powerful competitive edge along with comprehensive functionality that can ably handle the flow of materials in the supply chain process.

Today there are a number of companies that offer the configure-to-order services and are even capable of handling one configuration to one customer, low-volume-high mix through high-volume-low-mix orders. These companies also host a number of services that covers all the primary activities of configure-to-order process.

The customer is allowed to configure the required products through a secure global web page. The design specifics are handled by design technicians and experts, after which the software tools are introduced in the process. The customer is constantly updated on the status of every activity, which ensures the customer that the design activity is carried according to his stated needs.

An ideal configure-to-order service provider would provide large number of IT infrastructure like PCs, servers, peripherals, routers, hubs, switches, voice, video and imaging products and thousands of parts and accessories with world class performance. The company would be handling all major operating systems and applications software that is required to convert the product into the desired configuration.

These companies are also equipped with necessary infrastructure for testing and each of the process will be handled by skilled experts. This way, the customer is ensured very high levels of testing and debugging activities. Also, the company can provide services for component warranty return programs on a regular basis.

The service providers also handle full turnkey, full consignment or a mixed model. There are professional teams that can handle multiple programs such as Glocal Postponement, Kan/Ban, Min/Max and Vendor Managed Inventory.