The supply chain environment is very flexible due to changing demand and pressure from competitors. This article determines that a software architecture is needed to allow information systems to be realigned with the changing supply chain without effort or delay. The characteristics and requirements of the supply chain of the future matches the advantages and characteristics of a software component architecture. The software engineering methodology of component based development, which builds systems using the software structures Components, allows the underlying software architecture to be rapidly changeable. We show how components can be optimized for inter-operability,facilitating the integration of information systems as the supply chain view extends outside of the company. The required specialization of components before they are applicable to supply chain software is explained.
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