Information architecture for

supply chain quality management

Li Da Xu
a Department of Information Technology
and Decision Sciences, Old Dominion
University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
Introduction
In order to operate a supply chain efficiently in a cooperative
manner, all related functions across the supply chain must
operate in an integrated manner in which the various partners
within the supply chain must be efficient with respect to every
aspect including quality management. Research indicates that
SCM would not be possible without advances in information
systems and technology

This paper attempts to analyze the current state of the art in

information management for supply chain quality management,
reviewing the current research andi
development in information
architecture for supply chain quality management, and
highlighting some of the key technologies that have the
potential to significantly improve the performance of supply
chain quality management
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Automated supply chain quality management

An industrial traceability system is used to trace an entity

through identifying its origin by tracing back in the supply
chain, following the path of the entity through the supply
chain from suppliers to consumers. It can be used to
improve quality management.

Service-oriented architecture
SOA can integrate a supply chain process and information;
sharing such information can help create a better
environment for real-time datai exchange, real-time
responsiveness, real-time collaboration, real-time
synchronization, and real-time visibility across the entire
supply chain
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RFID
RFID systems are one of the most promising technologies that will
improve quality management across the supply chain. RFID
technology can also be assisted with other technology to enable
integrating work processes seamlessly. The Internet of Things (IoT)
is a term that has been introduced in recent years to describe
objects that are able to communicate via the internet.

Agent
Agents can increase the level of flexibility in SCM and enable
enterprises in the supply chain to be more responsive. Agent-based
systems can also provide opportunities
i to construct a large complex
system out of relatively simple and autonomous components as
software agents are suitable for coordinating the complex
interdependencies between activities of independent organizations
forming supply chains
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Workflow management

(1)Control-flow/process perspective
(2)Resource/organization perspective
(3)Data/information perspective
(4)Task/function perspective
(5)Operational/application perspective
Cross-organizational integration

DAMA has developed an inter-enterprise architecture and

i
collaborative model for supply chains which enabled
improved collaborative business across supply chains

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Conclusion

One of the goals of supply chain quality management is

to develop extended enterprise cooperative systems
capable of promoting cooperation between component
enterprises in supply chain quality management. Such a
system should become a virtual i network in which
independent enterprises are linked by information
technologies. This evolution requires technologies which
are able to facilitate an effective management of quality
issue in supply chains. To some extent, such systems are a
strategic move which will allow the best supply chain
quality management to be implemented.