Information Systems in Manufacturing Networks

Abstract:

Interorganizational information systems are prime enablers of new collaborative forms of activity among different businesses, but present research shows that they are only used infrequently to support manufacturing networks of small and medium-size manufacturing enterprises that join together to compete through joint learning, resource sharing, technology transfer, marketing, or production. Many smaller businesses lack technical expertise. Comarketing and coproduction networks have different informationsystem support needs from other networks such as resource and learning networks. Network brokers or sponsors can help network members to incorporate technology that facilitates information access and communication in all networks and can provide collaborative support to enable information exchange and shared databases for joint marketing and production efforts.

Key Words and Phrases::

• Agile manufacturing
• interorganizational information systems
• manufacturing networks
• network brokers
• small and medium-size enterprises
• virtual corporations

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan A. Sherer

SUSAN A. SHERER ([email protected]) is associate professor and director of the business information systems program at Lehigh University. She has a Ph.D. in decision sciences from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. in operations research from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. in industrial engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a B.S. in mathematics from the State University of New York at Albany. Her research interests include information systems risk, interorganizational information systems, and IT investment management. She is the author of Software Failure Risk: Measurement and Management (Plenum Press, 1992), as well as numerous articles in Journal of Systems and Software, Software Maintenance, Software Engineering Journal, IEEE Software, Information and Management, and Journal of Information Systems.