System Architectures for Manufacturing Co-Ordination in Complex Supply Networks

Abstract

As most of today's products are manufactured in complex networks of independent companies, better collaboration and co-ordination across the network are important leavers for improved customer service and efficiency. In this article, we discuss different architectural approaches for information systems supporting complex supply networks. The business requirements are starting point for the evaluation. Three basic types of architectures can be determined: Completely centralised co-ordination, a hybrid architecture of local planning and control modules and central co-ordination, and a completely decentralised architecture with self co-ordinating units. The last architecture seems to be most promising for complex networks of independent companies. The article presents a first approach to this rather new architecture. The 5th-Framework IST-project Co-OPERATE will further advance the discussed concepts.