The partnerships aim to cut inventories for both parties, smooth out production schedules and quickly identify service and quality problems.

Businesses cut inventories by 0.8 percent in March, the Commerce Department reported.

The shortened cycles cut inventories by more than 50 percent.

Burberry responded rapidly to the 2008-9 recession by cutting jobs and inventories.

Tambrands said its lower shipments had been expected because of its recently announced policy of cutting inventories by selling only as supplies are used.

You could cut Soviet inventories by two thirds and still leave them with enough warheads to turn America into a crematorium.

Hell, you and I know that both sides want to cut inventories by half.

The appliance unit, for example, cut average inventories on hand by $400 million, Bruce Bunche, a spokesman, said.

But analysts said the companies have cut costs and reduced inventories to a five-year low.

Last month, the Commerce Department estimated that businesses cut inventories at a $27.7 billion rate.