A solutions-based approach to enterprise and plant-floor networking

Networking giant Cisco Systems needs no introduction—but what it offers manufacturers does. While routers, for example, are still an important part of its business, Cisco these days applies its technology-based products and services to challenges faced by a particular industry or industries.

At the same time, "It isn't about Cisco products specifically designed for the supply chain—instead, it's about the way existing products are bundled together to address manufacturers' supply chain requirements," explains Scott Westlake, director of manufacturing industry solutions, Cisco.

Four solution sets are on offer. First, Cisco Ethernet to the Factory connects the corporate office and the production floor, allowing manufacturers to make decisions supported by real-time plant-floor data and performance metrics.

Second, Cisco Collaborative Product Development connects stakeholders in the new product development process so that suppliers, manufacturing, and engineering collaborate using real-time data sources to view and act on "one version of the truth."

Third, Customer Interaction helps manufacturers create a network foundation for realtime information sharing across field sales, call centers, channel partners, and support organizations.

Most ambitious of all, DemandDriven Supply Chain helps meet customer demands through a partnership with logistics and transportation management supplier D.W. Morgan. The solution synchronizes each link in the supply chain, cutting reaction time to changes in demand.

Yet it was the lack of just such a capability that led to the biggest crisis in Cisco's history. As the tech bubble burst in 2001, Cisco was accelerating production, which ultimately caused fundamental industry changes. The vendor is working now on network technology to prevent that pain from resurfacing.