Information‐sharing in supply chains: five proposals on how to proceed

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to focus on supply chain visibility in practice and to suggest ways to improve the supply chain performance through information sharing. Design/methodology/approach – A case study exploring the current state of visibility in the demand-supply network of an original equipment manufacturing company was carried out. The goal was to understand how a manufacturing company and its suppliers can benefit from incremental demand information sources. Data were collected through interviews and data analyses and focused on an end-to-end view of demand information. The most relevant information uses were tested in pilot projects. A literature review on demand information sources and benefits of visibility was conducted. Findings – On the basis of the case results and a literature survey, five proposals on how to improve visibility are presented. They suggest that only information that improves supply chain performance should be shared, demand-supply planning processes be stabilized and synchronized, different demand data sources should be used in parallel, customer collaboration offers a wider view to demand, and that suppliers' need for demand information differs from those of downstream actors. Practical implications – The paper proposes solutions to managers on how they can benefit from improved access to demand information. Originality/value – The paper shows, via case study and literature review, how information sharing can improve supply chain performance.