Related expressions

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), database, data communication system

Explanation

A communication standard is a set of standard electronic documents that facilitates the flow of information among parties engaged in the buying, selling products in the full value chain. The standard documents how to exchange information and what kind of information that may be exchanged.
Information is commonly sent as a XML (Extended Markup Language) documents. Benefits of XML are:

• common language for the industry
• easy to understand messages
• fewer errors due to schema and data-typing
• comprehensive messages for present and future processes
• generic XML tools provide support for more than the standard developed for Indisputable KEY

• Simpler, cost effective and efficient business transactions using agreed-upon language
• increased data accuracy through less human intervention
• increased supply chain visibility
• reduced paper work

• StandForD - "Standard for forest data and communication". StanForD is an open de-facto standard covering basically all relevant information sent to and from harvesters and forwarders. It is today used by all Scandinavian manufacturers. The standard was established in 1987-89 and it is financed by Scandinavian manufacturers and Swedish forest companies. The work on maintaining and updating the standard is coordinated by Skogforsk, Sweden. All official documents can be found at www.skogforsk.se. The standard is today in wide practical use primarily in order to control harvesting as well as monitoring the production of harvesters and forwarders. The standard is of high interest within Indisputable KEY since it is possible to store data about individual logs and to keep track of exactly where a certain log comes from. The log could thus be followed through the supply chain if some kind of id tag could be applied to the log. A minimal update of the standard would be needed in order to register the id of a tag to the standard.
  
  
• The papiNet standard is an open standard that anyone can contribute to. It is also free to use the standard in your environment. The papiNet standards supports all business areas of the forest and paper industry, and cooperates with standards bodies. By applying papiNet forest companies hope to obtain higher data accuracy, reduced transactional costs, consistent information, simplified business processes, reduced manual paperwork, real time information exchange (www.papinet.org)
  
  
• WoodX is an electronic transaction standard, which is open, free and easy to adopt, providing common benefits to supply chain partners. WoodX is a group of forest products companies focused on development and implementation of papiNet WoodX standard. Types of companies are wood products producers, customers and business partners. WoodX is welcoming all partners to join the group, please contact us for further information. (www.papinet.org)

Application / usage in Indisputable KEY

Within the project all electronic information exchange will be based on messages defines in the communication standard. Development of a communication standard that can be used between the partners of the consortium is essential for meeting the project objectives. Increasing the yield and utilisation of machines are two important objectives of the project. By sharing the data obtained from measurements of eg. raw materials and semi finished products the fit between raw material and finished products will significantly improve. To reach this objective it is essential that the data obtained by the harvester, is transferred and utilised by the lumber manufacturer. In a similar fashion, data about production from the lumber manufacturer should be transferred to the vendor of raw materials to improve future deliveries (distribution of lengths and diameters) of wood raw material. This can only be realised if applying a communication standard that enables a smooth flow of correct information. The standard can be adopted also outside the Indisputable KEY consortium ensuring that the results obtained are not exclusive to the Indisputable KEY partners.

Institutions with teaching capabilities

Edicom (Valencia, Spain: offers specialised training courses, which, designed jointly with companies, will enable people to achieve a high degree of satisfaction, being given by specialists in the issues in question:
Basic EDI concepts. Design of messages and sectorial guides, EDIFACT/XML/XBRL syntax.

• Advanced EDI courses
• Enterprise Application Integration (EAI)
• EDI on Internet
• Traceability
• Advanced courses in XML
• Continuous Replenishment (CRP)
• EDI Training Academy (San Diego, USA)

Available text books and training material

An IDC (global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets) survey of 200 organizations in the United States and in Europe shows that the use of XML-based document standards is increasing. In 2007 IDC wrote a White Paper about “adoption of documents standards” .

Lappeenranta University of Technology is concerned by the subject of EDI. For instance, a PhD intitled “ Electronic Data Interchange in Logistics Processes ” was done in this Finnish university.

“ The A to Z of EDI ” from Nahid Jilovec is a comprehensive guide that helps evaluate, plan, and implement electronic data interchange in business environment. This book gives practical details for implementation, showing how to cost-justify EDI and providing job descriptions for EDI team members; detailed criteria and forms for evaluating EDI vendors; considerations for trading-partner agreements; an EDI glossary; and lists of EDI organizations and publications. It includes information about EDI and the Internet, system security, auditing, and much more.