time as a competitive element
time is a crucial element in all phases of the value chain.
word-calss firms reduce time to market by compressing design,implementation,and production cycles.these firms deliver products or services quickly by eleminationg non-value-added time,that is,time of no value to the customer (for example,the time a product spends on the loading dock) interestingly,decreasing non-value-added time appears to go hand in hand with in creasing quality.the overall objetive,of course,is to increase customer responsiveness.