Toyota: Demand Chain Management

The Toyota demand chain is efficient, flexible, customer oriented and product specific. The case studies how Toyota uses its advanced distribution channels, inventory management, planning methodologies and production capabilities to create and manage its demand chain, with a particular focus on the Japanese and the North American markets. The Toyota Prius and the Scion product line are two distinct examples used in the case to illustrate how Toyota adjusts its demand chain to fit a particular product and its target customers, utilizing as much as possible its existing manufacturing and distribution infrastructure.