INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO ENHANCE THE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT OF STONE CRUSHING INDUSTRY

Abstract

     The purposes of this research were (1) to study the pattern and model of business administration management of stone crushing Industry. (2) to study the pattern of Information technology and supply chain management of stone crushing industry, and (3) to find out the pattern and model of Information technology development approach to enhance the supply chain management of stone crushing industry. This research is a qualitative research by In-depth interview method using interview guideline with the purposive sampling key informants in 4 groups; 1) Entrepreneur of stone crushing industry 2) Employees of stone crushing industry 3) Specialist and expert in stone crushing industry and 4) Academic Officer of stone crushing industry. The sample size in this research is 44 people in stone crushing industry of Saraburi province.

     The research results found that manufacturing processes of stone crushing industry are fairly uncomplicated. The production, till this day, still adopts the inaction strategy which mandates to employ limited number of low skilled labors. Since the production processes have relied heavily on the use of machines and equipment, as a result of this, the continuous development for upgrading machines and equipment are required high skilled labors that can possess ability to perform effective maintenance works especially excavator and heavy-duty crushing machine. The key successful factor in business is the quality of resources; however, most of the rock quarrying and crushing plants are situated in the aggregated concession zones which reflect the same quality of resources. Therefore, many businesses adopt competitive pricing strategies and try to differentiate the logistics strategies to cut transportation costs.  Moreover, the study has shown that the industry needs major improvement on strategic planning in the areas of resource management and workforce since the job descriptions have not been prescribed clearly thus the manner of business is to follow the existing processes from generation to generation.  

     Supply chain management; the evidence has represented that the industry has not underpinned the direction of supply chain management. The traditional work is mainly focused on the productivity process to reach the order of demand. Only a few business sectors can synchronize to the responsive supply chain but still lack planning for feasible solutions. One worker is assigned to perform multiple job holdings.

Scarcity in knowledge of Information technology, Industry does not embrace the utilization of IT. The IT is applicable for specific activities such as sales report and accounting. Data gathering procedure are not acquired in systematic approach therefore; the sales forecast and resource management directly affect poor data network management.  

     According to the research, the model of Information technology development approach to enhance the supply chain management of stone crushing industry found that 3 stages of “BASCIT”: 1) Develop fundamental business administrator management (BAM) element, which focuses on strategic planning, resource management then virtually becomes monitor and evaluation processes. 2) Enhance the capacity of supply chain management (SCM); design effective manufacturing processes to deliver the standardized product. 3) Maximize the potential of information technology management (ITM), Optimize further technological advancement as a tool to implement effective supply chain management. That is necessary to complete BASCIT in each stage before going to the next step.