Web application development for a vendor managed inventory system

Abstract

Lowering production cost is a goal for every supply chain industries. Many have come up with various great methods to answer this challenge; however, lowering production cost while maintaining the level of customer satisfaction and quality standard is the multi-million dollar question that many fail to answer. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) is one of several supply chain models that takes pride on both areas: effectiveness and cost savings. Using the concept of supplier side stock management, where suppliers are in change of their retailer stock levels, this model aims to achieve better inventory prediction, timely restock delivery and less buffer inventory in every retailer. This project aims to combine the VMI model with the strength of web applications. Web application can be accessed on demand, anywhere and anytime without any requirement other than the web browser. It stores data on the web, therefore making it accessible to every user with the correct permission. Transparency is a key for a successful VMI relationship to function well; web applications enable this by having a single database and a single platform where users can share their data with one another in real time. A web application called WebVMI was developed through the course of this project. This application simulates a real working VMI environment and has the capability of a basic VMI model to function. The application is coded using java servlet as the server-side language and MySQL is used as the main database for the application to run on. WebVMI provides a platform where retailers and suppliers can share information and plan an accurate stock resupplying at the correct time period, thus allowing a VMI relationship to work. This report will elaborate in details the research done behind the development on this project, planning and designing of the web application, and more information will be given about WebVMI application and its functions.