But as products fly out the door and around the world, high-tech companies
realize velocity is only one part of the equation. Having processes that
allow companies to adequately analyze and quickly respond to changing market
conditions and supply and demand fluctuations are equally important.
So, what are electronics organizations doing to increase their agility,
flexibility and responsiveness? Some of the solutions they're implementing —
many of which are based on improved information sharing between trading
partners — include pull inventory strategies, postponement, lean
manufacturing, and demand shaping and simulation activities.
QUALCOMM'S PILOT
Its potentially far-reaching supply chain improvement project starts with Qualcomm CDMA Technologies, a fabless semiconductor division that provides chipsets for consumer and wireless devices and relies on suppliers for total turnkey manufacturing, assembly and test operations.
JDSU: CREATING A SINGLE SNAPSHOT
Tackling another side of the supply chain equilibrium equation, JDS Uniphase Corp. is taking a stab at the massive inventory management task, both internally and within its supplier base.
SONY'S MORE INFO, LESS INVENTORY PLAN
Sony Corp.'s unit in Spain, Sony Espaża S.A. BCN TEC, takes supply chain agility and responsiveness pretty seriously. With 10,000 to 12,000 televisions coming off the factory lines every day, communicating with suppliers, managing inventory and moving product out the door as quick as possible are essential parts of the companyżs rhythm.
TEC SINGAPORE'S RESPONSIVENESS GOAL
Feeling the pressure to go beyond just-in-time-inventory practices, the Asian OEM, which supports companies such as IBM and NEC in the printer industry, wanted to step up its inefficient decision-making and planning process.
Oracle Corporation (Nasdaq: ORCL) is the world's largest enterprise software company, providing enterprise software to the world's largest and most successful businesses and organizations. With annual revenues of more than $9.7 billion, the company offers its database, tools and application products, along with related consulting, education, and support services. Headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, Oracle is the first software company to develop and deploy 100 percent Internet-enabled enterprise software across its entire product line: database, server, enterprise business applications, and application development, and decision support tools.
