Supply Chain Communication and Operational Management in the Automotive Components Supply Chains in South Africa Using Cloud Hosted Information Systems

Cloud computing is changing the way organisations are operating using integrated supply chain management systems. Even though using cloud computing is becoming well-known the logical study of its operational implications is deficient. In this paper, a framework for integrating the triad of communications structure, information systems, and trust and integrity structures through cloud computing has been designed. In the theoretical framework, integration of communication structures, information systems, and trust and integrity has been presented to design an event-driven communications and operations management framework on cloud computing for solving the core research problems of lack of organisational and IT platforms integration in supply chains. The methodology presented has two stages. The first stage will comprise fundamental designs supporting the theoretical framework with the help of a review of existing theories. The second stage will formulate a model design of the proposed theoretical framework in OPNET Modeller software using the design details captured from theories on existing designs. The model will be simulated to test the functioning of the event-driven process steps, the functioning of the trust and integrity relationships, lead-times in completing each of the process steps, and problems/ bottlenecks faced, if any. The results of the simulation are expected to reveal if this framework is feasible and provide inputs on how this framework can be implemented in real world supply chain management (SCM) systems. OPNET Modeller is chosen because it is a recognised commercial software in modelling and simulating application events and interactions