Effective Information Flow in the Internal Supply Chain: Results from a Snowball Method to Map Information Flows

Abstract

Information sharing is an important factor for effectiveness within the internal supply chain. In this paper we use a methodology for mapping information flows in an internal supply chain, and case studies of two Swedish multinational organisations. Eight retrospective cases were used to map, describe and analyse the information flow that supports the physical material flow from the receipt of an order to point of delivery. Every involved person was interviewed on at least one occasion each. The interviews were conducted to map and describe the information and physical material flow. The aim was to identify factors that could improve and rationalise information flows and generate a better flow within the organisation. The study shows the importance of an integrated information system, but also clearly indicates the importance of a collaborative culture and an awareness of the human–technology interface. The study also shows that three factors of interface distortions are most frequent in the cases: (1) changes registered in the database trigger no action among the staff, (2) new knowledge to staff is stored only orally and not in the database, and (3) interface between the paper system and the database, and between the old and the new information storage culture.