Electronic Supply Chain Integration

Digi-PEP (Digitaler Produktentstehungsprozess [Digital Product Development Process])

Researchers:

Partners:

Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Consulting, Audi AG, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Lemförder, Fahrwerktechnik AG & CO. KG, ZF Sachs AG, DENSO Automotive Deutschland GmbH, and other suppliers

Financed by:

Volkswagen AG (research cooperation)

Motivation:

Automotive projects often stand under high time pressure; new automotive projects demand internal and great external communication efforts, and delays in the process are not infrequent. For these reasons, organizational and IT integration of automotive suppliers in the product development process is becoming increasingly important to automobile manufacturers. The Volkswagen Group’s B2B supplier platform has been a great success for mass production. The goal of the present study is to expand the platform to include an application for communication in the product development process. The interfaces between the automobile manufacturer and the suppliers within the product development process have to be identified and appropriate B2B application developed that improve coordination between the manufacturer and the suppliers as well as internal coordination.

Objectives:

In the framework of the study, product development processes and the interfaces between the automobile manufacturer and its suppliers will be examined systematically, and ideal typical trans-corporate process flows worked out. We will develop a relationship grid that will show clearly the communication steps in the product development process with the associated parties involved, inputs, outputs, and IT systems. The grid will include both views of VW and Audi and the various suppliers involved in the project. For selected steps in the product development process, the study will develop rough system specifications for applications to support electronic communication and integration. The applications will be programmed and implemented in the Volkswagen Group B2B supplier platform.

The following activities have already been completed:

Manufacturer and suppliers relationships have been examined systematically on the customer and supplier sides, and a relationship grid has been developed that lays out the product development process and the links to suppliers. An overview of existing need for improvement and possible solu-tion approaches to communication with suppliers was completed. Following prioritization, part areas within communication with suppliers having a high potential were selected. These areas for action have been prepared for further development of B2B applications and their implementation.
Volkwagen has used the results of Digi-PEP effectively for improvements and further developments of their B2B supplier platform.
Digi-PEP was successfully completed in July 2004.