Supply-chain communications and transactions were stalling Bendix CVS's global expansion. For one of its Chinese castings supplier, the Elyria, Ohio, vehicle-parts maker faxed weekly updates on Tuesdays and followed up with off-hour e-mails or voicemails to confirm releases or track shipments. The Chinese company then manually compared the information to its own schedule before responding. This type of back-and-forth communication took as long as a week, and the problem was further magnified when dealing with Bendix's other 219 suppliers.
Bendix solicited the help of e-Ventus, who suggested its e-business software solution, called Mx Supplier Collaboration, for complex supply-chain-management problems. It's a web-based program that requires only Internet access.
Mx Supplier Collaboration operates in a secure Internet environment and provides categories of real-time information. For instance, its supplier and planner portals list release data and shipment activity. A shipment module tracks shipments in real-time, and a message board does the work of e-mails and phone calls. Company planners update procurement and production schedules or exchange purchase orders and promises-to-ship on-line.
By streamlining its supply chain with Mx Supplier Collaboration, companies like Bendix move toward becoming more globalized. The system lets them find the best quality and lowest-cost products and communicate with suppliers any time.
e-Ventus Corp.
Cleveland
www.e-ventus.com
