Exostar Enables Boeing High-Volume Suppliers

Manufacturing News, Source : TheManufacturer.com
Published : 07 Jun 2007 16:33

HERNDON, Va. (June 5, 2007) – Exostar, powering secure collaborative supply networks for the world's largest aerospace and defense (A&D) organizations, was selected by Boeing to enable its business to business (B2B) supplier connections for more than 125 of its largest volume suppliers.

Boeing’s move from its legacy electronic data interchange (EDI) gateway to Exostar’s Supply Chain Platform is part of Boeing’s strategy to lower the complexity and cost by reducing the number of disparate IT systems the company manages. Exostar’s solution provides a variety of B2B integration options for Boeing’s supplier partners, including traditional EDI, to streamline communications for procurement and supply chain visibility.

“Our suppliers now have options,” said Joel Wright, director, enterprise supply chain and program management systems at Boeing. “No longer are they forced to establish multiple, expensive traditional EDI connections on their own. Through Exostar’s Supply Chain Platform, our suppliers can all connect once, in the most effective way for their specific requirements.”

Boeing previously established EDI connectivity with high-volume suppliers through a third-party value-added network (VAN). Knowing suppliers have significant investments in their existing EDI infrastructures, Boeing required a solution where suppliers could leverage their current capabilities, yet allow the company to consolidate its supplier connections to a single channel. Exostar provided a comprehensive solution to Boeing and its suppliers which support a variety of formats, including Web Interface, SAP IDOCs, EDIFACT, XML, and BAAN flat file, as well as multiple transport protocols such as secure FTP (FTPS) and HTTP over SSL (HTTPS).

Like other Exostar customers, Boeing has leveraged Exostar’s Supply Chain Platform for years to enable business transactions between Boeing business units and thousands of suppliers. However, Boeing had continued to support legacy data integration options for high volume suppliers. Exostar rids Boeing of its redundant gateway connections and EDI support requirements, while simultaneously affording Boeing’s suppliers new, secure options for their connections and business critical information sharing.

“Exostar eliminates business systems and processes that burden manufacturers and suppliers with more money and time to manage infrastructure, support and maintenance,” said Chris Borneman, Exostar CTO and COO. “By shifting IT support, Boeing can add services for and improve relationships with its most common suppliers – while focusing resources on running the core business.”

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