This paper addresses supply chain transparency improvement in a triadic manufacturersupplier-
supplier relationship. It investigates the problem of improving transparency using
a set of interviews; then, a detailed problematization and a simulation model is formulated
based on the results. The interview results show that there are two key issues to be considered:
information systems issues related directly to transparency and capability issues related
to utilizing transparency. The simulation results support developing capabilities by illustrating
the effects of different options for coordinating material flow. The results of the study
also indicate that while solutions to improve transparency can be relatively straightforward
to implement, developing the capability to benefit from it can be more challenging, even in
a well-established close partnership. In addition, suppliers may be hesitant to collaborate
without active manufacturer involvement.
In the assembly industry, almost all components are outsourced or transferred to other
parties, in order to meet the need for supply. This is referred as outsourcing of production.
The outsourcing of assembly product components is based on a relationship model
between the contractor and the industry. However, there is no relationship or communication
pattern between the contractor or supplier and the assembler. Hence, in order to
accelerate line production and overcome problems with assembly components, the communication
path is shortened by providing a direct communication channel between the
assembler and the supplier or contractor, in order to communicate any problems that arise
during the assembly process by internal communication within the industry. The purpose
of this study is the design and development of a web-based software application electronic
data interchange (EDI) that can be used as a tool for communication between the assembler
and supplier. The EDI application provides formal communication between the assembly
industry and the contractor providing the components or parts needed in the assembly process.
The main purpose of using EDI technology is to help the assembler to communicate
the relevant documents to suppliers quickly, accurately and efficiently. The documents to
be communicated are in the form of reports or claims, and are related to non-conformities,
errors and component difficulties arising during the assembly process. This research novelty
is providing direct communication between assembly and supplier by using EDI application
that can give contribution in manufacturing area so it can accelerate the line production in
assembly.
The Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Technical Sciences (Bull.Pol. Ac.: Tech.) is published bimonthly by the Division IV Engineering Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, since the beginning of the existence of the PAS in 1952. The journal is peer‐reviewed and is published both in printed and electronic form. It is established for the publication of original high quality papers from multidisciplinary Engineering sciences with the following topics preferred: Artificial and Computational Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, Civil Engineering, Control, Informatics and Robotics, Electronics, Telecommunication and Optoelectronics, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Thermodynamics, Material Science and Nanotechnology, Power Systems and Power Electronics.
Journal Metrics: JCR Impact Factor 2018: 1.361, 5 Year Impact Factor: 1.323, SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) 2017: 0.319, Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP) 2017: 1.005, CiteScore 2017: 1.27, The Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education 2017: 25 points.
Abbreviations/Acronym: Journal citation: Bull. Pol. Ac.: Tech., ISO: Bull. Pol. Acad. Sci.-Tech. Sci., JCR Abbrev: B POL ACAD SCI-TECH Acronym in the Editorial System: BPASTS.