A Study Concerning Small Manufacturing Business within B2B eCommerce Value Chain

This paper addresses challenges faced by one small manufacturing business in a competitive environment that is expanding with lower costs, higher quality, improved reliability and quicker responsiveness. The business processes require changing the relationship between companies and suppliers to establish a competitive advantage. The company identifies the business process and the supplier aligns with the process to create a value chain. The paper starts with identifying the complexities of manufacturing business and the demands created from the technological advances and the competitiveness of the industry. Examples of the challenges facing a small manufacturing business are then identified through a case study on Globe Engineering Co., Inc. The case study shows the impact of the changes in the industry on small manufacturing business and recognizes the necessity to build a flexible system to provide services in a timely fashion.