What does a chase strategy primarily aim to achieve?

A chase strategy primarily aims to match production to customer order rate. This strategy is designed to align manufacturing output closely with actual demand, ensuring that products are made to meet the current needs of customers. By varying production levels—increasing when demand is high and decreasing when it's low—companies can avoid excessive inventory and reduce the risk of overproduction. This responsiveness to customer demand helps maintain optimal inventory levels and enhances customer satisfaction, as products are available when needed without significant delays.

In this context, maximizing supply chain efficiency is an important goal, but it might not specifically address the intent of the chase strategy focused on aligning production with demand. Minimizing inventory levels is also a consideration, but the primary objective is to match production rates directly with customer orders rather than solely reducing inventory. Reducing lead times, while beneficial, is a broader goal that may not be directly connected to the chase strategy's focus on production-scheduling alignment.