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Product category: Supply chain planning and execution software
News Release from: Global eXchange Services | Subject: TradeWeb and Tradanet Service
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 12 August 2003

EDI boosts automotive parts
competitiveness

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Automotive parts supplier EGR Europe uses EDI to deliver just-in-time programmes and boost competitiveness in the supply of automotive parts.

Automotive parts supplier EGR Europe uses electronic data interchange (EDI) to deliver just-in-time programs and boost competitiveness EGR's business is in the supply of automotive parts Since the company's formation in 1973, the Group has developed from its base in Brisbane, Australia into a truly global company with an established reputation for quality and service

Today, it is the preferred supplier to over 200 automotive parts and accessories divisions of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in 40 countries worldwide.

EGR Europe trades with around 400 customers ranging from major OEM companies to individual distributors across the Continent.

Its challenge was to improve customer responsiveness, and therefore customer satisfaction by: * Ensuring on-time delivery.

* Delivering just-in-time programs where required.

* Improving replenishment flexibility.

As well as reducing costs associated with handling orders.

EGR chose TradeWeb and Tradanet Service from Global eXchange Services (GXS) to exchange orders, self-billing invoices, information requests and advance shipping notices electronically with its customers.

TradeWeb is a forms and Web-based EDI service that was the first of its kind on the market.

All EGR needed was a personal computer, a standard Internet browser and a modem.

EGR simply completes its information and sends it over the Internet to using only a Web browser.

TradeWeb then routes the information electronically to DaimlerChrysler.

EGR also uses Tradanet Service, which supports trade through various standards and communication protocols, such as XML, EDI and other industry-specific standards.

In addition, Tradanet includes audit trails, user-controlled access and local language support 24 hours a day to help ensure business documents are protected in a secure environment.

Today, EGR exchanges EDI-format documents with ten of its customers, including DaimlerChrysler, representing 20 percent of its business.

The company expects to receive around ten orders each week via EDI.

And, as it provides weekly shipments, it sends one or two ASNs each week.

Orders, for example, arrive electronically from its customers.

They are then entered manually into EGR's own bespoke ordering system, which was developed in-house using several integrated systems.

When the goods are ready to be dispatched or picked up, the company sends out an ASN via EDI to the haulage firm or customer to arrange the delivery of the goods.

Otherwise, dispatching is carried out using standard dispatching techniques.

Reduced paperwork and therefore less manual administration processes were important benefits for EGR.

But more critical was that the use of Tradanet and TradeWeb has enabled the company to do business with those global companies that demand the use of EDI.

Also, by allowing customers to order via EDI, EGR can deliver a just-in-time program as required by some customers: "For just-in-time delivery to happen, we need to receive orders as early in the process as possible, and be able to share that order information across the business," adds Mazgaj.

"Different sections of the company can now work on their part of an order - for example, one looks after packaging, while the other, the parts lists - within the same timescales so that they all arrive together to fulfil the order.

We couldn't do this without EDI.".

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