Expediting

TECHNICAL DEFINITION

Expediting is the process of accelerating the progress of an order, shipment, or project within the supply chain, often involving proactive communication with suppliers and carriers to mitigate delays and ensure timely delivery.

BACKGROUND

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as 4IR, Industry 4.0 or the Intelligence Age, is a neologism describing rapid technological advancement in the 21st century. It follows the Third Industrial Revolution. The term was popularized in 2016 by Klaus Schwab, the World Economic Forum founder and former executive chairman, who asserts that these developments represent a significant shift in industrial capitalism.

SYNONYMS & ALIASES

• Fast-tracking
• rush order
• accelerating
• prioritizing
• quickening

USAGE NOTE

Expediting can be costly but is sometimes necessary to meet critical deadlines or avoid stockouts.

DEVELOPERS

Organizations developing technology related to Expediting.

• SAP

  Develops enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management (SCM), and manufacturing execution systems (MES) software that helps manufacturers expedite production, logistics, and supply chain operations through real-time data and optimization.

• Siemens Digital Industries Software

  Offers a comprehensive portfolio of software for digital twins, product lifecycle management (PLM), manufacturing operations management (MOM), and industrial automation, enabling faster product development, optimized production, and expedited factory operations.

• Rockwell Automation

  Provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions, including control systems, manufacturing execution systems (MES), and analytics software, to help manufacturers expedite production processes, improve efficiency, and enhance operational visibility.

• Honeywell Connected Enterprise

  Delivers industrial IoT (IIoT) solutions, software, and automation technologies designed to optimize operations, improve asset performance, and enhance productivity in manufacturing, directly contributing to expediting processes and decision-making.

• Kinaxis

  Specializes in supply chain planning solutions that leverage concurrent planning and AI to provide real-time visibility and enable faster, more agile responses to disruptions, significantly expediting supply chain decision-making and execution.

• Blue Yonder

  Offers AI-powered supply chain and commerce solutions, including planning, logistics, and fulfillment, designed to optimize inventory, improve delivery speed, and expedite the entire supply chain from source to customer.

• Locus Robotics

  Develops autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for warehouse automation, enabling faster and more efficient order fulfillment, picking, and material handling, thereby directly expediting logistics and manufacturing support processes.

• GE Digital

  Provides industrial software solutions, including SCADA, MES, and asset performance management (APM), that help manufacturers gather real-time data, optimize operations, and predict potential issues, leading to expedited problem-solving and increased uptime.

• Dassault Systèmes

  Offers 3D design software, digital twin platforms, and simulation tools that enable manufacturers to virtually plan, test, and optimize production processes and product designs, thereby significantly expediting development cycles and manufacturing ramp-up.