New standards adopted for supply chain communication
CHICAGO – Under direction of the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Mutual Efficiency Forum OEM Task Force, a new set of industry standards has been adopted to streamline supply chain communication efforts between accessories manufacturers and boatbuilders, NMMA said in a release yesterday.
Task Force members agreed to use the Engineering Change/New Products Proposal Form and Engineering Change Best Practices documentation to facilitate effective communication between vendor and OEM on any changes that may occur to products in upcoming production.
Communication should also include dialogue regarding unavoidable changes to the final product and elective changes that may benefit the supplier, manufacturer or both.
“This document is meant to be a springboard for discussions between suppliers and OEMs to develop an understanding of the complexities involved in making changes to current production,” says Fred Sherrerd, industry manager of ASA Electronics’ Jensen Marine Division, chairman of the MEF OEM Task Force and member of NMMA’s Accessory Manufacturers Division Board of Directors. “It is a starting point of issues to consider when either side requires a change in the manufacturing status quo.”
In addition to the group’s engineering change management recommendations, the MEF OEM Task Force is formally urging all OEMs to adopt forecasting methodology in order to create additional efficiencies within the supply chain process.
Forecasting is a method in which an OEM informs the manufacturer of its anticipated needs sometime in advance, so the manufacturer will more easily be able to fulfill an OEM order when the time comes. The group also has recommended the Interleaved 2 of 5 (I 2 of 5) barcoding system and standards for master pack carton labels for increased supply chain efficiency.
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