Enabling customization using standardized operations

This article presents four standardization techniques - product, part, procurement, and process - that help mitigate the negative impacts of product variety on a firm's operations. The ability of a firm to use these standardization approaches depends on the degree to which it can modularize its products and processes, on what it is trying to achieve for its customers, and on the costs associated with standardization. The article presents a framework for thinking about these options and choosing among them.