6.1.3 Inter-firm planning and control
Both section 6.1.1 on intrafirm MPC systems and 6.1.2 on managing independent demand show that relatively sophisticated modelling data are needed to enable accurate and timely planning and control of logistics in a focal firm. Attention to detail – both in planning and in execution – is key. The greater the product variety, the more component parts and the greater the number of levels in the BOM, the more challenging the task. When it comes to coordinating logistics between supply partners, the challenges multiply because the number of processes at stake is so much greater. There are many other factors that make life even more challenging, resulting from differences between the partners: