Towards smarter supply chains : four case studies | |
| Author | Naqvi, Quratulain |
| Call Number | AIT RSPR no.IM-07-01 |
| Subject(s) | Business logistics--Information technology Radio frequency identification systems |
| Note | A research study submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Information Management, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Research studies project report; no. IM-07-01 |
| Abstract | Efficiency is the key driver of Supply chain management. The objective of this study is to show how to achieve timely delivery of products to end-users and to overcome the problems that a supply chain generally has by using information technology effectively thus resulting in to a smart supply chain. Information technology can be a source of competitive advantage throughout a supply chain. It can improve a company's performance and image in the market and it can motivate the people involved. This study is structured so that a student or manager can get a clear understanding of supply chain problems, their relation to information technology and impacts of those decisions on profitability and effectiveness. Many factors are involved in developing an effective supply chain but the focus should always be on mutual benefit for all stakeholders. The delivery of products to the end user and the technology used to track a certain product holds an important place. It is always a good idea to track the product throughout the supply chain, for this, different procedures can be used, including RFID, ERP, MRP and other related technologies. I examine four companies in this research study. I model two of the companies' supply chain using WebSphere Business Modeler™ and simulate their supply chains to understand timing and throughput with and without technology. SWOT analysis and multi-criterion analysis, is used to see the effects of technology adoption in particular situations and systems. A comparative analysis of the four companies is also done to understand the commonalities between them. For each company, I identify current problems in the supply chain and explore the possibility of addressing those problems through information technology. Through the case studies, I give special attention to the role of new technology, especially RFID, in increasing the effectiveness of supply chain. It also addresses other technology initiatives besides RFID that a company might undertake to achieve timely delivery of products to the end user. The case studies show that supply chain visibility and integration can be achieved using IT. An inexpensive but intelligently designed information enabling system incorporating supply chain and system management techniques such as RFID, ERP, Microsoft BizTalk Server™, MRP and other related techniques can change the fortune of a company by cutting its supply chain costs and making it efficient and responsive. The goal of my review is to paint a clear picture of how to achieve effective integration of the above-mentioned technologies into a supply chain, so that medium and small-sized enterprises can benefit from the same technology already in use by their larger competitors. I hope this work will help people involved in their companies' supply chains improve and integrate those supply chains. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Research studies project report ; no. IM-07-01 |
| Type | Research Study Project Report (RSPR) |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Information and Communications Technologies (DICT) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Information Management (IM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Dailey, Mathew;Paul, Himanshu; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Janecek, Paul; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Research Studies Project Report (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |