Sharing Sensor Based Quality Data in Automotive Supply Chain Processes

In current supply chains (SC), many process steps are not yet being monitored for proper quality. Adding product and process quality supervision can improve supply chain performance by reducing production loss and emergency transports. Due to its globally distributed supply chains, the automotive industry, in particular, offers many opportunities for application of quality supervision. This paper describes an approach for integrating sensor based quality data into supply chain management (SCM). It outlines the structure of a supply chain event management (SCEM) system that includes mobile and stationary sensors, data repositories and software services. In addition, it shows how to enhance the Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) communication standard in order to share sensor based quality data. In this context, the paper describes the necessary additions to the standard and provides an example how these may be used.