SBIR Phase I: Supply Chain Management via the World Wide Web

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将调查一个新的制造业供应链管理系统（SCMS）的可行性，该系统代表了企业资源规划（ERP）供应链管理的创新：(1)比现有的供应链管理软件范例更有效；(2)融合了许多“精益制造”原则；(3)与现有系统相比，更适合小型制造企业使用，因为它可以通过全球Web交付。结果将是更有效的库存管理、生产计划和生产控制，从而提高客户响应能力、降低库存水平和提高关键资源的利用率。通过在全球网络上提供免费试用期，并遵循“按使用付费”协议，小公司可以使用与大公司使用的相同强大的调度工具。这个概念被认为比现有的ERP方法更适合实际的制造系统。如果成功，结果将使美国制造公司更适合在新的网络市场竞争，以低成本和高质量为前提，将客户服务作为区别的关键方面。这些公司将能够以几乎为零的交货时间向客户交付定制产品，从而提高他们在竞争日益激烈的全球环境中的地位。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will investigate the viability of a new manufacturing Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) representing an innovation in enterprise resources planning (ERP) supply chain management that: (1) Is more effective than existing supply-chain management software paradigms; (2) Incorporates many of the "lean manufacturing" principles; and (3) Is more available to smaller manufacturing companies than existing systems in that it can be delivered via the worldwide Web. The result would be more effective inventory management, production planning, and production control resulting in greater customer responsiveness, lower inventory levels, and higher utilization of critical resources. By delivering over the worldwide web with a free trial period followed by a "pay-per-use" protocol, smaller companies can make use of the same powerful scheduling tools that are used by large companies. The concept is a considered to be a better fit for real manufacturing systems than existing ERP approaches.If successful, the results would enable U.S. manufacturing companies to be better suited to compete in the new web-based marketplace that takes low cost and high quality as given, leaving customer service as the key aspect for distinction. Such companies will be able to deliver customized products to customers with almost zero lead-time, thereby enhancing their position in an increasingly competitive global environment.