Abstract
Even though it is an attractive strategy, Mass customization (MC) is not feasible in all environments, and when it is, it presents many challenges to be dealt with [Aigbedo 2007 and Helms, et al. 2008]. Therefore, an extensive study on how to implement MC is needed before the actual implementation. Collaboration is a necessity in a MC environment, whether between the customer and the company, the company and its supply chain partners, or the different members of the company’s value chain. Knowledge management is a tool that assures this collaboration by better capturing, storing, and reusing data. In addition deciding on whether to implement MC or not is not an easy task; simulation can be used as a decision support system by evaluating the company’s performances. This paper presents Knowledge management, value chain modelling and simulation as tools for MC implementation, applied on the shoe industry under a European project named DOROTHY.
