An information system's architecture to support responsive supply chains

Supply chains and the practice of supply chain management in the automotive industry have evolved considerably in recent years. This evolution has altered the perception of supply chains and the techniques used to manage them. Contemporary literature extols the virtues of partnerships, information sharing and strategic alliances as policies to improve supply chain performance and reduce waste. In particular, the principle that companies should take advantage of opportunities to share information (which broaches issues associated with power and trust) in order to create an advantage has gained wide acceptance. The research presented in this paper investigated an internet design as a viable means for the automated exchange of information between supply chain partners. The design is articulated via a generic information systems architecture. The generic design was verified through case studies undertaken in the automotive industry. One case is presented in this paper. In the case, the design demonstrated how the internet could be used to transmit production requirements from a vehicle manufacturer to first and second-tier suppliers subsequently improving the integration and performance of the chain.

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