It boils down to a simple fact: Consumers get picky.

That"s according to Chris Kuehl, Ph.D., managing director of Lawrence, Kan.-based Armada Corporate Intelligence. The economist stopped by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA), International, headquarters last week to communicate some economic wisdom and, most important, focus that wisdom so that it has direct applicability for the metal fabrication professional.

According to Kuehl, those picky consumers drive everything. Their demand changes fast, sending ripples almost instantaneously up the supply chain: hence the rationale for flexible, lean manufacturing. When consumers shift demand, all suppliers must shift with themand that can include a quick, sometimes drastic shop floor retooling.

Companies have needed to undergo changes in design very quickly under hefty delivery pressures, Kuehl said. In order to do that, they have needed to move manufacturing closer to the consumer.

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