Title: A review of the literature on mixed make-to-stock/make-to-order production systems: major findings and directions for future research

Authors: Thyagaraj S. Kuthambalayan; Samiran Bera

Addresses: Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand 826004, India ' Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand 826004, India

Abstract: Research on production strategies have mainly focused on make-to-stock (MTS), make-to-order (MTO) or hybrid MTS-MTO mode of production. However, firms also manufacture both MTS and MTO items in a single facility. This is popularly known as mixed MTS-MTO production strategy. A content-analysis-based literature review is conducted to identify: 1) the conditions favouring adoption of these systems; 2) the issues in these systems and our current understanding of addressing these issues; 3) the challenges in improving these systems. In addition, we also examine the modelling approaches used to design mixed MTS-MTO systems. The study provide insights to the operations managers to suitably design the production systems in order to derive competitive advantage.

Keywords: production strategy; make-to-stock; MTS; make-to-order; MTO; literature review.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2020.111038

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2020 Vol.37 No.3, pp.372 - 406

Received: 17 Mar 2018
Accepted: 14 Oct 2018
Published online: 06 Nov 2020 *

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