The purpose of this Ph.D. project is to investigate the correlation between products and logistics in the context of the supply chain. We know that the nature of a given product has a major influence on the performance of the supply chain associated with it. We also know that logistics costs are generally estimated at 15-20% of total product costs. So it stands to reason that a company may be able to reduce costs, and thereby gain an edge on its competitors, by tailoring the supply chain in question to an individual product or product family; i.e., by creating focused supply chains. Working as a change agent at Bang & Olufsen, a Danish manufacturer of audio and video equipment and the case company/partner on this project, the researcher is collaborating on tools to integrate logistics/SCM considerations into early phases of product development. Step one is to investigate the structure of existing products and their supply chains at B & O. In step two, a framework to support the concurrent development of products and supply chains is being sketched out together with B & O. CIP project group: Ebbe Gubi (Ph.D. researcher, Professor John Johansen (primary advisor) and Poul H. K. Hansen (associate advisor) Project duration: fall 2000 ? fall 2003