This paper explores the potential value proposition that could be created in supply chains on adoption of the electronic business messaging standard directory; UN/XML, developed by the United Nations, UN/CEFACT and offers a framework to aid managers in deciding if UN/XML should be applied in their organizations.

An increasing number of organisations are beginning to operate in a standardised business process environment suggesting that there is benefit in a standardised business messaging infrastructure.Novozymes A/S is the first known industrial biotech organisation in Denmark to apply the GS1 and the Consumer Goods Forum's global upstream standards initiative (GUSI) in a Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) scenario. The combination of applying a standardised VMI business process using the aforementioned integration standards for electronic business messaging and pre-agreed standardised message choreography has been proven by Novozymes to add significant business benefit to their organisation.This case study methodology outlines the results of Novozymes' application of GUSI standards over three separate implementations replenishing 25 customers' factories and describes the resultant reduction in internal IT effort. The implementation data were collected from a total of twenty five factories (sites) which Novozymes, today, replenish using GUSI VMI. The 'ex post' results were then compared and interpreted against a Novozymes internal benchmarking analysis which was used an 'ex ante' base line.The findings strongly suggest that the GUSI VMI application provides not only reduced integration effort, but also is a foundational basis for higher rent generating processes and improved demand transparency management.

This chapter goes on a supply chain journey where humankind attempts to make sense of its complex world through the application of numbers and associated data carriers. The trading world is famously becoming increasingly globalised and has had the effect of extending supply chains and subsequently making them more complex and prone to risk. To offset these risks, standards are being developed and applied in supply chains to identify and manage products as they travel along the physical supply chain. The following pages introduce the reader to the concepts of standardised product identity and data management. Both of these elements have been found to be foundational and enabling prerequisites when offsetting supply chain risk. The systems mentioned within the chapter are discussed through the lens of the GS1 system and have all been tested in manifold implementations. They are intended as best practices, patterns of application for supply chain managers, and thought leaders alike, which are proposed as a launch pad for improving organisational capabilities using standards.

This chapter goes on a supply chain journey where humankind attempts to make sense of its complex world through the application of numbers and associated data carriers. The trading world is famously becoming increasingly globalised and has had the effect of extending supply chains and subsequently making them more complex and prone to risk. To offset these risks, standards are being developed and applied in supply chains to identify and manage products as they travel along the physical supply chain. The following pages introduce the reader to the concepts of standardised product identity and data management. Both of these elements have been found to be foundational and enabling prerequisites when offsetting supply chain risk. The systems mentioned within the chapter are discussed through the lens of the GS1 system and have all been tested in manifold implementations. They are intended as best practices, patterns of application for supply chain managers, and thought leaders alike, which are proposed as a launch pad for improving organisational capabilities using standards.