Managing the Manufacturer-Retailer Interface

Janice H. Hammond is studying the impact of coordination on the performance of manufacturing and retail channels. The focus of her research is on the supply "channel", the set of firms that undertakes the chain of activities that begins with acquisition of raw materials and moves through logistics and manufacturing processes to the sale of the end product to consumers. Hammond is examining (1) the capabilities needed to achieve efficient, effective production and delivery of products, with an emphasis on how the speed and flexibility required to meet changing customer needs are best achieved at both the firm and channel levels, and (2) the types of coordinating mechanisms that can be established-among firms in a channel, among functions within firms, and among members of functional areas-in order to improve firm and channel performance.