Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1267313
20 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2020 knew there were some suppliers that were going to be fully onboard and capable of driv- ing these improvements, allowing us into the digital construct of their information, so we could deploy the same optimal techniques of planning and delivering on that supply chain. Many suppliers were all-in and ready to deploy with us in that regard. Others weren't nearly as ready and willing for a couple of reasons. First, they might have lacked the enabling technology and infrastruc- ture and weren't at that level of being able to provide it so that we could integrate more seamlessly from a digital standpoint. Secondly, some suppliers believe that information is a part of their secret recipe or intellectual prop- erty, and this still persists in our industry. It very well can be a form of intellectual prop- erty, and to expose those parameters and infor- mation to the downstream supply chain could be viewed as a threat to them. In response, we have to recognize that their hesitation is sincere. They're not just being dif- ficult; they're genuinely concerned about what could go wrong if some of that information were used in an untoward fashion for them as a supplier. We make sure that we only ask for things that are not IP or recipe-oriented. But we also talk to them about their reser- vations. We say, "Let's think back. How com- fortable were you when EDI came on board initially? How comfortable were you with the types of information that were used or exchanged for personal purchases on your smartphone?" Early on, all of us had hesitancy about what could go wrong, and things have gone wrong. We have to respect that it has created some of this hesitancy by suppliers to engage in the transparency of information, but we also have to share with them that when you open up the right information to the right partners, everybody can benefit. Some of that is education and encourage- ment, but in many instances, I think it's just going to take time. The industry will become more comfortable with sharing pertinent infor- mation that is not IP, but is enabling from a sup- plier or a consumer standpoint, and will rec- ognize that all parties have a chance to benefit from it. So far, we've had mixed results; some are well in our camp of thinking and supporting that full end-to-end digital construct of informa- tion exchange, and others are still hesitant. Matties: We hear that there's some reluctance from fabricators about sharing their capabilities to designers to produce appropriate fab notes. Murphy: When I hear that, I think, "How could reasonable people not understand that avail- ing the most pertinent information to all par- ties is going to be good for all parties?" But when you think about where they maybe have been informed to be hesitant, you understand that human element of confidence versus hesi- tation. I believe that this journey will take a while for everybody to respect and understand that there's so much more to gain by sharing that pertinent information than there ever is to lose. Through cybersecurity and otherwise, there are ways to secure anything that could go wrong. When you're allowed to have that conversation and show them architecturally how they are protected, most people are going to come around, but that's a perfect example you cited of why wouldn't you want to do that. They're not ready. Matties: The only answer I can come up with is that it's a fear-based response. Murphy: Correct. This interview originally appeared in the July issue of SMT007 Magazine. To continue reading the remainder of it, click here. We make sure that we only ask for things that are not IP or recipe-oriented.