Information Systems for Early Supplier Involvement in Brazilian Automotive Supply Chains

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to identify whether in an automotive industry context with structural, technological and regulatory problems, information systems help the new product development (NPD) process to achieve development time reduction, cost reduction and product quality improvement due to an easier and more accurate data exchange or only because they allow faster information sharing among chain members. The research was developed using a qualitative and descriptive methodology and adopted as focal company a Brazilian auto parts company in order to evaluate its relationships with three suppliers and its three largest customers, composing three different supply chains (SCs). Results suggest that information systems have been widely used as tools for collaboration among the SC members, with expressive gains in competitiveness because it makes data exchange faster. Nevertheless, significant shortcomings still exist, especially regarding system integration and the consequent integration level among SC members.