THE ROLE OF PURCHASING TRANSPORTATION IN CYCLE TIME REDUCTION/

Reviews the literature of purchasing and transportation management to identify factors in the purchasing and transportation processes that i nfluence a firm's ability to reduce total cycle time. Presents a model of these factors to establish a framework for guiding research into c omprehensive, systematic approaches to total cycle time reduction. In addition, the total cycle time model serves as a blueprint for practit ioners in evaluating, in specific organizations, the effect of the pur chasing and transportation processes an total cycle time. Although muc h of the research reviewed herein dates to the early 1980s its conside ration as part of a comprehensive, systematic examination of the total cycle time concept is new.