
467
Introduction to Information Quality
in the Supply Chain
This chapter focuses on the Forecasting, Production Scheduling, Production, Delivery,
In-use Service, and Product Disposition in Supply Chain Management.
Supply Chain Management can be very complex when there are many inde-
pendent entities or trading partners involved. This is further complicated by
the many logistic and external factors and variables that can cause failure or
sub-optimization.
The Supply Chain is an end-to-end set of activities that begins with requests
or Requirements for Products and services from or for end-Consumers and ends
with satisfied — or unsatisfied — Customers. From the beginning request, the
Production work must be scheduled and controlled from materials and com-
ponents until the Finished Product is produced. Delivery Processes move the
Product to various Trading Partners until the finished Products and services
get delivered to the end-Consumer.
Information Quality problems with Information exchanged among Trading
Partners cause Supply Chain Management to fail. Problems caused by disparately
defined Information and incompatible Information Models cause miscommu-
nication throughout the Supply Chain.
Uncontrollable variables, such as weather events, economic downturns or
upturns, political events, and union work stoppages that shut down assembly
C h a p t e r
11
Information Quality Applied
to Su