Harley-Davidson Revs up JIT Manufacturing Performance with Edibar Systems, Inc., Webprint, and Sterling Commerce Web Forms

Harley-Davidson chose Sterling Web Forms to reach its non-EDI parts suppliers and now has approximately 200 partners on board, according to Harley-Davidson officials. In order to keep pace with its supply chain initiatives, Harley-Davidson went a step further and created a real-time system with bar coding for all parts.

“We went to our longtime partner, Edibar Systems, Inc., and together we enhanced Sterling Web Forms to meet the challenge of ‘bar code-enabling’ smaller suppliers that were using Web Forms but previously incapable of generating codes,” said Sam Starr, president and CEO, Sterling Commerce.

A custom solution was designed that leveraged Harley Davidson’s existing Web Forms system and provided the ability to deal with even the smallest suppliers using barcode technology. Through Edibar Systems, Inc., Webprint system, suppliers are given the ability to automatically generate barcode labels from the daily shipping requirements.

Harley-Davidson’s supply chain improvement initiatives created off-site “Material Velocity Centers” that replaced in-factory receiving areas. The move simultaneously centralizes parts supplies, improves logistics, frees up valuable factory floor space and creates a more efficient, integrated supply chain and manufacturing operation.

All of Harley-Davidson’s Web Forms-capable suppliers can now print bar codes off the Sterling Web Forms system and all factory-destined inventory now displays a bar code as part of the advanced shipping notice process. “We’re pleased to partner with Sterling Commerce and Harley-Davidson to achieve this milestone,” said Wayne Metcalfe, president of Edibar Systems.