Business Process Modelling for Synchronized Supply Chains

This paper proposes and model collaboration and information exchange enabler strategies, which are designed to accomplish significant improvements in supply chain performance. Some of these improvements to the supply chain are the reduction of the bullwhip effect and increase in customer and supply chain partner benefits. We propose a fully collaborative replenishment model. It details the information flow required to implement new supply chain collaboration strategies, clarifying a specific strategy for information sharing involving inventory levels (on-hand, in process, etc.), orders and demand forecast. We suggest the adoption of Business Process Modeling methodology, aimed to identify which information should be shared by supply chain partners, in order to create fully collaborative strategies. BPM, specifically through Unified Modeling Language and Business Process Modeling Notation standards, represents a suitable technique to develop and implement new supply chain collaboration practices, serving as a communication link between managers and software developers. The features of Business Process Modeling allow for effortless integration of the modelled information collaboration strategies into a general network information system and to create a flexible structure that can be quickly and even automatically adapted to new conditions.