| inted out in a previous article, Supply Chain | | | | pairs on a PVC basis. |
| Management (SCM) is a complex animal. The key to | | | | For a vendor that participated in multiple SCM |
| a successful SCM implementation is a clear | | | | networks, frame relay represented real cost savings. |
| understanding of the business objectives and | | | | Instead of a new circuit for each network, a PVC |
| business requirements of the company the SCM | | | | could be established. Instead of 6 week circuit |
| primarily supports. This often includes a number of | | | | installation delays, service could be established in |
| legacy systems which need to be integrated into the | | | | hours. |
| solution. From this will come the technical objectives | | | | So why the past tense? The advantages of frame |
| to be met and the technical requirements that frame | | | | relay are now achieved via the Internet. The |
| the solution. Only then will the commmunication | | | | timeframes for implementation have been reduced |
| requirements for bandwidth capacity, reliability, | | | | from hours to minutes. Encryption has advanced |
| resiliancy, latency, security, and expandability be | | | | beyond the security offered by isolated paths. |
| meaningful. | | | | Advances in application based routing can achieve |
| Here's just 2 such technical aspects..... | | | | availablity assurances. Legacy protocols have been |
| Frame Relay | | | | largely replaced by IP. |
| Frame relay initially had several advantages over the | | | | There are still times when frame relay is the best |
| alternative solutions for SCM and other multi site and | | | | choice based on business requirements or technical |
| multi company communications networks. | | | | constraints. But a robust bandwidth network (e.g. |
| The first advantage was with circuit costs. For a multi | | | | OC3 or OC12 bandwidth....perhaps with GigE |
| site network, the traditional approach was a large | | | | connectivity) applying IP protocols will enable a |
| number of point to point circuits. Each circuit required | | | | seemless flow of information without risking security |
| a router port, a CSU, and often a circuit monitoring | | | | concerns. |
| module. With milage based pricing, each circuit | | | | Emerging Technologies |
| represented a significant recurring cost on top of the | | | | The most notable is Radio Frequency Identification, |
| initial hardware costs. Router sizing was often a | | | | or RFID. RFID tags are essentially barcodes on |
| factor of ports supported rather than performance | | | | steroids. Whereas barcodes only identify the product, |
| capability. | | | | RFID tags can tell what the product is, where it has |
| Frame relay exchanged the point to point circuit | | | | been, when it expires, whatever information |
| costs with an access circuit, typically at less than 1 | | | | someone wishes to program it with. RFID technology |
| 10th of the cost. With port speeds from DS0 to | | | | is going to generate mountains of data about the |
| DS3, multiple sites could be connected with a single | | | | location of pallets, cases, cartons, totes and individual |
| port at each site. A partial or full mesh, even with full | | | | products in the supply chain. It's going to produce |
| redundancy, could be accomplished with very few | | | | oceans of information about when and where |
| router ports and CSU at each site. This represented | | | | merchandise is manufactured, picked, packed and |
| significant capital savings. | | | | shipped. It's going to create rivers of numbers telling |
| Using fractional T1 and T3 on the access circuits, | | | | retailers about the expiration dates of their perishable |
| frame relay made expanding capacity between sites | | | | itemsnumbers that will have to be stored, |
| relatively painless. Port changes within the frame relay | | | | transmitted in real-time and shared with warehouse |
| provider's network was often a configuration change. | | | | management, inventory management, financial and |
| Expanding the actual circuits was typically a | | | | other enterprise systems. In other words, it is going |
| configuration change on the CSU and DACS. | | | | to have a really big impact. |
| Adding new sites was often accomplished with | | | | Another benefit of RFIDs is that, unlike barcodes, |
| physical changes at the new site only. The new PVC | | | | RFID tags can be read automatically by electronic |
| across the frame relay network and at the existing | | | | readers. Imagine a truck carrying a container full of |
| site(s) was a configuration change. Depending on the | | | | widgets entering a shipping terminal in China. If the |
| routers used and the routing protocol implemented, | | | | container is equipped with an RFID tag, and the |
| this might be accomplished without a maintenance | | | | terminal has an RFID sensor network, that |
| window. | | | | container’s whereabouts can be automatically |
| The PVC approach allowed for additional security. A | | | | sent to Widget Co. without the truck ever slowing |
| given location could be directed to a specific port | | | | down. It has the potential to add a substantial |
| within the DMZ, limiting the exposure of one's own | | | | amount of visibility into the extended supply chain. |
| network to other vendors within the SCM network. | | | | Right now the two biggest hurdles to widespread |
| Firewalls at each end allowed each company to | | | | RFID adoption are the cost of building the |
| control its own security. The frame relay network | | | | infrastructure and the lack of agreed-upon industry |
| was vulnerable to external monitoring at very few | | | | standards. But regardless...RFID implementation will be |
| points, and the relationship of PVC traffic to specific | | | | bandwidth intensive to retrieve and disseminate the |
| customer required specific network design | | | | mountain of information such a tool will provide. |
| information. | | | | Summary |
| Frame relay offered the ability to have a disaster | | | | The answer to how to meet bandwidth requirements |
| recovery site support multiple locations. PVC | | | | for SCM applications is as complex as ever. The |
| between the disaster location and other locations | | | | addition of emerging technologies like RFID into the |
| could be defined in the configuration, allowing dynamic | | | | mix of legacy point-to-point approaches, the frame |
| implementation of the disaster recovery network. | | | | relay darling, and the simplification afforded by OCx |
| As a circuit protocol, frame relay functions | | | | backed IP protocols....means your IT staff will be |
| independent of other protocols. This segmentation | | | | pegging their stress meter trying to make a decision. |
| allowed IPX, IP, SNA, and other system | | | | To navigate the aspect involving researching and |
| communications protocols to be implemented over | | | | acquiring the right bandwidth solution....do yourself a |
| the same paths. If desired, each of these could have | | | | favor. Use the services of an independent unbiased |
| its own PVC and bandwidth, or they could all operate | | | | consultant such as to navigate the minefield for you. |
| over a common path. Finally, the bandwidth and | | | | Your IT staff will love you for it. |
| performance could be established specifically to site | | | | |