Using an IT strategy to improve company interaction with their supply chain in a fire truck bodybuilding business in Thailand

This research is a single case study of the impact of the introduction of both information technology (software, hardware and Internet) and a company policy about IT use on the internal operations of a fire truck assembly company and its supply chain relationships. Using Action Research, the research focuses on a fire truck assembly company in Thailand, where supply chain efficiency was not improving and where costs of, and relationships with, both upstream suppliers and downstream clients in the supply chain were increasing. The CEO decided that the introduction of ICT hardware and software would be an enabler to address the effectiveness, cost and relationship issues for the company. The research involves the interaction of the researcher and the company through three phases of change with the researcher being based in the company throughout the research process.<br><br>The research is framed as 'strategy as practice' reporting the process of strategy development, implementation and review within cycle processes of changes, renewal, review and farther implementation. Strategy as practice is an approach that is concerned with a study of strategy related to what people do, focused on practice and understanding the human agency in the construction and enactment of strategy, concerned with 'the doing of strategy: who does it, what they do, how they do it, what they use, and what implications this has for shaping strategy'. Therefore, strategy as practice can help improve practice by providing explanations about what happens when strategy is put into action, i.e. what activities take place and what are the outcomes of those activities. The research shows that there were positive changes within the organisation and staff members are wiling to work more efficiently and effectively. This research provides evidence that IT can assist to change and improve business efficiency whilst training and policies can address the supports for business improvements. Staff members' information technology knowledge also influences information technology usage and the information sharing within the organisation. This research adopted a qualitative approach, therefore three senior managers, a supplier and a trader, and other eleven staff members were interviewed and observed between the year 2009 and 2010. This research demonstrates that the implementation of various IT projects highlights the importance of the usage of IT and contributes to a deepening understanding of the impact of IT to the organisation that contributes to business improvements.<br><br>The changes in the company resulting from the introduction of new IT improved the efficiency of the upstream supply chain. The lead-time of orders for supplies and the accuracy of orders placed by the company both improved and promoted collaboration across the members of the supply chain. Suppliers delivered parts on time and with greater accuracy, thus improving truck assembly efficiency Fire Trucks were delivered from the manufacturer on time as contracted and together with communications improvements upstream and downstream, operational process efficiencies flowed through to customer delivery.