ABSTRACT
The emerging characteristics of time-based competition in manufacturing include a heavy emphasis on information integration and sharing, especially across the Intranet and Internet. Manufacturing companies striving to reduce cycle time are flattening organizational layers and leaning processes to take out non-value-added tasks and to minimize queues and inventories wherever possible. Information technology is becoming the enabler of quick response and supply chain management (SCM) by providing rapid communication of material requirements and current information about these requirements wherever and whenever that information is needed, as well as computing planned component availability using just-in-time (JIT)-triggered pull mechanisms in the production processes. The accuracy and timeliness of information are measurable quality attributes. The turn-around time from initial data gathering or input until the information is available to be acted upon is a key factor in determining the ability to respond quickly to customer requirements.
