this performance did not address how the documents were being used. It merely automated the method.“The need for greater speed and flexibility led the business analysts to take a serious look at how the documents were being used, and this led to an overhaul in the way the documents are being used. Analysis has looked not at replacing the documents, but at eliminating them altogether. With this approach, a new partnership between the customer and supplier was born. Rather than have purchasing agents review raw material requirements and place purchase orders, purchase orders can be placed automatically, based on pre-determined inventory levels.” 7The Kroger Company has begun to make their inventory levels available to their suppliers via EDI, “allowing the supplier to adjust their own production schedules to respond more quickly to their customer's needs. With bar coding and point-of-sale data collection, replenishment of retail inventory or shipment of finished products can now be triggered by information collected right at the cash register.” 7 With the changes in the computer technology and the increase in information technology, they both play a role in today's manufacturing, distribution and service environments, “along with changes in business philosophy, has changed the definition of Electronic Data Interchange. The definition must now be more encompassing than merely the rapid transmission of electronic documents.”8EDI must now be viewed as "an enabling technology that provides for the exchange of critical data between computer applications supporting the process of business partners by using agreed-to, standardized, data formats".8 EDI is no longer merely a way to transmit documents. It is a means to “move data between companies that will be used by computer systems to order materials, schedule production, schedule and track transportation, and replenish stock.”7To remain competi...
