Expediting

A process following the issue of a purchase order or contract in which the buying organisation manages the progress of the materials from receipt of order by the supplier, through manufacture or picking, despatch and shipping, and through to delivery. A form of indirect supply chain management, expediting is seen as a failure-related activity, but may be essential when there are multiple intermediaries and multimodal transport involved, such as in international trade. See also Muda and Supply Chain Management.