CIM TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING BOTH FLEXIBLE PLANT FLOOR EQUIPMENT AND PROCESSES AND SOPHISTICATED AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEMS, RESULTS IN A BUSINESS CAPABLE OF HIGH VARIETY AND FAST RESPONSE IN DESIGN, PRODUCTION, AND DISTRIBUTION WITHOUT LOSS OF PRODUCTIVITY OR QUALITY. THESE SYSTEMS HAVE ECONOMY OF SCOPE AS WELL AS SCALE AND ELIMINATE THE FACTORY AS A BARRIER TO INNOVATION. THEY MAKE POSSIBLE A HIGH LEVEL OF PRODUCT DESIGN VARIETY AND CUSTOMIZATION, FOCUS ON MULTIPLE SMALL MARKET NICHES, SHORT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TIMES, SHORT PRODUCT LIFE CYCLES, AND CLOSE LINKS BETWEEN VENDOR AND CUSTOMER AT ALL STAGES OF DESIGN AND PRODUCTION. IN EFFECT, THE TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATES KNOWLEDGE WORK WITH PHYSICAL LABOR--THE FUNDAMENTAL DESCRIPTION OF A SERVICE.