Take a hard look at how accessible your supply chain information is today. Do you know exactly when critical supply shipments will be arriving from your suppliers? Do your suppliers really know what you need from them and have they committed to delivering? Can you see where there’s a potential problem in your supply chain before it becomes a real problem?

For most manufacturers, the answer to these questions is, “No.” To find out what’s really happening in your supply chain, you most likely have to sort through the pile of reports, faxes and Post-It Notes scattered across your desk.

Since you aren’t sure about your supply chain, you hedge your bet. You gather extra inventory of critical components – just in case they’re needed. Your suppliers do the same.

Manufacturers are hurt by their own information systems. Whether from acquisitions or decentralized decision-making, most companies have multiple ERP, MRP and supply chain systems. There is critical supply chain data in each of these systems, but no easy way to get at it. Without integration, no one really knows what’s going on in your supply chain. You get incomplete views based on disparate data.

You might have problems with your information visibility if you answer, “Yes” to the following questions.

• Do you carry extra inventory or critical parts just to be safe?
• Do you often have to expedite orders to suppliers to fulfill customer orders?
• Do you have multiple ERP, MRP or supply chain solutions?
• Do you use telephones and faxes to update your suppliers?
• Does only a small percentage of your supply base use EDI?
• Is it hard for you to determine the status of supplier commitments or shipments?

Click here to find out how VendorSite can help you improve your supply chain visibility.