The Role of Information Exchange in Supply Chain Collaboration: A Case Study of a Vietnam Ship Parts Supplier

Abstract

This research paper examines collaborative supply chain strategies of an anonymized company in a developing region, hereafter called Ship Parts (SP) Vietnam, a pipes and valves supplier for the shipbuilding industry. Our research applies descriptive analysis approach to examine the question; what is the role of information exchange in customer collaboration practices in management of the supply chain. We examine the practice of Vendor Managed Inventory in these relationships. The units of analysis are different types of relationships that SP Vietnam has with its key customer stakeholders in its network. The names of all key stakeholders are all anonymized. In this paper we investigate SP Vietnam’s relationship only with its customers. These include longtime international partner WAKE, the newly acquired Japanese customer Chūbu Shipyard (Chūbu), and the growing potential customer VESSELS Group in Vietnam.