(a) What do we mean by a “postponement strategy”? Why can it bean effective strategy for a firm engaging mass customization?
(b) Since the 2008 global financial crisis, the B/L (“bill oflading”) of container shipments from Asian factories to the UnitedStates (US) has increasingly specified US gateway ports, ratherthan the local RDCs (regional distribution centers) of finalmarkets, as the stopping points (as opposed to through points).What are the main reasons behind this development, and why?
(c) Following part (b), should the phenomenon happen more oftenfor high-value products or for low-value products? Explain youranswer.
