C3.3.3 Data Collection
Automatic Data Collection or Capture
In today’s fast-moving business environment data is increasingly collected or captured on an automated basis. This can be used for process monitoring and control in “real time” with very low (or zero) error rates. Examples of relevant technology are as follows:
- Barcodes
- Scanners
- Hand held devices
- RFID (radio frequency identification)
- OCR (optical character recognition)
- Voice recognition
Order Processing Software and Data Analysis
Many organisations have order processing software for either customer orders or purchase orders, or both. Examples of relevant data fields might include:
- Planned delivery date
- Actual delivery date
- Quantity ordered
- Quantity supplied
- Quantity returned or rejected
- Costing data
- etc
Many software programmes will also allow this data to be analysed, with the following benefits:
- Monitoring supplier performance
- To enable supplier comparisons and benchmarking to take place
- Encouraging and measuring improvements to supplier performance
- Allowing focus on poorly performing suppliers, leading to appropriate action being taken
- Improving customer satisfaction
- Better supplier partnerships