Supply chain visibility plays a crucial role in enabling resiliency and overcoming challenges faced by companies. The COVID-19 pandemic caused several disruptions to the supply chain; factory closures due to Government imposed lockdowns, shipping delays and demand spike for many products using semiconductor chips to enable remote work.
IBMs $7B Systems (Servers and Storage) business successfully transformed its supply chain over the years to meet 100% of Client demand during the pandemic. The transformation involved, among other elements, implementing the Control Tower to achieve visibility across supply chain and the IBM Cognitive Advisor to make better decisions using AI. Both these products utilized data from the ERP and MES systems of IBM and its key suppliers.
Utilizing real-time data in the ERP and MES systems enabled IBM to quickly respond to sudden changes in demand and the availability of components, including semiconductors. The MES, in particular, provides visibility into manufacturing operations, including inventory levels, equipment performance, and the usage of materials and spares enabling Operations Managers to minimize disruptions. IBM SiView, which is the leading MES for Semiconductor Manufacturers, has in-built business logic which can also be customized by Fab Operators to maximize Fab output and minimize cycle time.
The insights presented here aim to contribute to the ongoing discourse on smart manufacturing and its insight on supply chain visibility in the semiconductor industry.