Information sharing in supply chains
Improving the Performance of Collaboration
Sharing information can enhance interactions among enterprises in supply chains, facilitating coordination and improving performance at both individual and collective levels. However, achieving full information sharing for centralized problem solving is challenging due to issues like information privacy, the costs of inter-organizational information systems (IOIS), and the complexity of centralized problems. This monograph investigates optimal levels of information sharing that can approach the benefits of full sharing. It explores coordination methods across three supply chain challenges: inventory replenishment, distributed project scheduling, and rescheduling. Additionally, it establishes a framework for assessing the impacts of sharing production information among enterprises. Utilizing a multi-agent-based modeling approach, the work demonstrates that appropriate levels of information sharing can yield results comparable to, or even better than, full information sharing. This research offers valuable insights for enhancing supply chain performance where full sharing and centralized problem solving are impractical. By leveraging the Internet and multi-agent technologies, small and medium-sized enterprises can overcome barriers and reduce costs associated with information sharing, thereby facilitating effective supply chain management.
