EU funding supported the development of a secure networking tool to simplify the sharing of information between electronics companies. Better communication along the supply chain of European electronics will keep the industry internationally competitive.
Facing stiff competition from manufacturers in the Far East and the United States, Europe’s electronics industry needs to capitalise on opportunities to streamline the supply chain through shared knowledge, collaborative decision-making and cultural understanding. To this end, a number of non-hierarchical networks that inherently involve greater information exchange have already been formed. Enterprise resource planning systems provide an adequate view of operations and can be used to build links to other companies. However, they fall short in providing transparency on the strategic and tactical planning levels.
Further details: New tool for management decision-making