Applications of e-commerce across the manufacturing supply chain to achieve the promise of e-manufacturing

Abstract

New approaches to the development of manufacturing strategies based on improved supply chain performance have made great progress. This research is undertaken to investigate the use of the internet and web technologies to enhance supply chain agility so the manufacturer is able to cope with make-to-order processing without facing a panic of late delivery. E-manufacturing is a recent concept developed to achieve higher levels of supply chain integration and agility with the help of the internet. Its scope is greater than ebusiness and the supply chain. The use of the internet to optimise the customeroriented supply chain, the use of the website for more than e-commerce known as buying and selling, these developments are immature. As a result of a review of the literature and eight case studies, this research develops close-up views on the following three aspects that lead to the successful implementation of e-manufacturing in Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Customers (B2C): (1) Requirement specification; (2) Modules development; (3) Implementation methodology. The implementation of e-manufacturing enables the manufacturer to tie up with its supply chain existing partners and potential partners as an entity toward the same objectives, and brings maximum benefits to each participant. The fulfilment of web technologies creates web surroundings which provide the small company with an opportunity to be involved with the large enterprise’s e-commerce systems