Supply chain management information system

Integration between decision modeling and the supply chain management information system... 

Use of public communication channels. Reconfigurable supply chain management information systems use public communication chaimels and the Internet, in particular, extensively. These communication channels offer a substantially higher degree of flexibility and lower costs while modem technologies can provide an adequate level of security. 

Different types of information systems are used in supply chain management. Information systems involved in supply chain configuration decision-making support and implementation can be classified as follows ... 

The supply chain consists of interrelated units each possessing their own supply chain management information systems and decision support systems, where the former are mainly used for supply chain execution, and the latter for planning and decision-making at various levels of supply chain management (Fig. 10.1). One of the units or their group is considered as a focal supply chain unit, which drives the supply chain configuration initiative. 

Further evolution of supply chain management information systems strongly depends upon the success of the service-oriented architecture, which becomes more influential as more vendors provide functionality of their enterprise and supply chain applications as services. 

McLaren, T. S., Head, M. M., Yuan, Y. (2004). Supply chain management information systems capabilities An exploratory study of electronics manufacturers. Information Systems and e-Business Management, 2, 207—222. 

In order to address the above issues and improve operational efficiency, Valvex implemented a supply chain execution information system— an e-supply chain management system (e-SCM). The system was obtained from a vendor named Excelvision. This system not only coordinates interactions with vendors and customers, but also deals with internal activities involved in warehousing and manufacturing operations. Figure 3 provides a schematic representation of the e-SCM system. 

MRP 11 or ERP systems provide functionality for not only production planning and manufacturing but also ordering, receiving, warehouses, shipping and so on. These systems support supply chain management and may include related functions such as maintenance, calibration control and human resource information. 

Supply chain management advances rest firmly on the flow of information. Overwhelming paper flow, separate computer systems and databases, and nonnetworked computer systems are unacceptable in the supply chain era. Linking computers on a single platform of information with fast access to all information needed to make decisions fosters enterprise-wide solutions that make up supply chain management. 

The traditional trade-off in supply chain management has been the maintenance of costly buffers of inventory vs. the ability to meet complex customer prerequisites. Reduce safety stocks and costs will be reduced, but customer service may suffer. Due mainly to advanced planning and scheduling systems and improved forecasting applications, production planners now have the opportunity to reduce reliance on safety stock—while stiU meeting customer demand—by trading inventory for information. 

SCI (supply cham integration), 348 SCIS (supply chain information system), 318 SCM, see Supply chain management Scope, project, 1266 Scope changes, 1259 Scope management automation of, 1256, 1257 project, 1244-1245 Scope statements, 31, 1336 Scope of work (SOW) document, 1266, 1278— 1280... 

Chapter 14 covers information systems and some applications that can help in supply chain management. This is an overview of software packages that does not promote specific vendors. The primary focus here is how information technology can help manage the supply chain. 

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