XML-Based Document Format Shows Promise for High-Tech Hubs - Agile Software's Agile Anywhere supply chain management software uses the product definition exchange, or PDX, format similar to PDF - Product Information

ENT, Sept 8, 1999 by Joseph McKendrick

"Their major thrust has been to outsource their electronics manufacturing to companies like Flextronics," Dykes says. In turn, Flextronics has to be able to change production lines in a moment's notice.

As an example of services Flextronics provides customers, Dykes points to a dramatic simplification of the product shipping process. Several steps were taken out of the process from sales, accounting and manufacturing, he says. Agile Anywhere was employed at the back end of the process to reduce the time from final design out to the market. This is facilitated by rapid turnaround of engineering change orders, immediate notification of design changes and uniform implementation across factories.