Agile Web Pilot Program

摘要

The Agile Web Pilot Program was managed by the NET Ben Franklin Technology Centerand was partially funded by an agreement with the federal government's Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's Technology Reinvestment Project. It was designed to respond to the trend in industrial procurement towards consolidating suppliers and demanding greater adaptability and agility in meeting the need for highly customized solutions in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. The pilot program allowed 18 small and medium sized enterprises to experiment with new agile business practices in competitive manufacturing environments by forming virtual organizations within the context of live orders. The goal was to demonstrate how the changes in business practices can be applied and integrated to provide extra value to the customer. The project showed that developing trust and solid relationships among the participants, led to an enhanced competitive position for the suppliers and optimal, value-added solutions for the customers. In addition, the experiment showed that the key to developing an effective web of suppliers is to foster solid relationships, identity core competencies and to work with customers as partners to provide optimal solutions. The experiment resulted in a for-profit organization that will continue providing integrated, optimal solutions through a supply chain that has unprecedented flexibility in all facets of manufacturing and design engineering.