Home / Systems / Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Management System

Sumitomo Corporation plays a key role in the global exchange of goods, services, and technologies among nations and cultures. One of Sumitomo's business units buys barley malt from the Canadian prairies and ships it to breweries in Japan to make beer. This malt sales and distribution process involves a number of trading partners at multiple locations. The supply chain was managed by exchanges of phone calls, faxes, and e-mails between partners across many time zones. Each party maintained its own computer systems to manage and track its own portion of the trading process.

This process required significant manual handling of paper documents and re-entry of data in disparate computer systems. To accommodate the need for connecting people and information more efficiently, and the desire to increase customer satisfaction by providing better order and shipment information to trading partners, a central database was required to streamline the entire process. Universal Dynamics implemented a Supply Chain Management (SCM) system for Sumitomo Corporation to serve this purpose.

Project Scope

Universal Dynamics provided full system and project services, including business needs analysis, project definition, cost estimate, scheduling, conceptual planning, system requirement specifications, hardware and software selection, procurement, database design and software programming, user interface development, implementation, testing, documentation, user training and project management.

A PC-based SQL database server is the core component of the system. This system provides web-based access for up to 30 concurrent users with an internet connection and commercial browser software. Each user is assigned a user name, password and security privileges to control access to the system. The system is designed with the flexibility to link with Sumitomo's enterprise information system and to include other trading regions and future supply chain partners. It has the capability to connect electronically with the inventory system of Sumitomo's customers.

Benefits

• Streamlining of the malt sales and distribution process by minimizing the use of paper and the re-keying of data
• Centralized supply chain database for users from different partner organizations at multiple geographic locations
• Authorized users with an internet connection can log on to this web-based system from anywhere in the world
• Different security access privileges allow users to access only those parts of the system they need to see. They will not be able to see competitors' data that may be displayed on the same form or report
• Reports and statistics are generated by querying the database
• E-mail automatically notifies selected users as soon as new data are entered or existing data are changed
• A work-to-do list reminds each user what tasks need to be performed next
• Improved order and shipment information allows each supply chain partner to track and quickly respond to changes in the process
• Reduction in transportation costs and administration costs resulting from accurate tracking and forecasting
• Flexibility to connect electronically with other trading partners and trading partners of Sumitomo's customers in the future

Highlights

A key feature of the system is the user-friendly interface. The Supply Chain Management System has given Sumitomo and its trading partners a convenient single-point access to information, making it easy for suppliers and customers to conduct business with Sumitomo.