Supply Chain Integration through logistics digital transformation: A case study in a shipyard in Cartagena Colombia

Abstract

Shipyard industry in Cartagena is a very important hub for social and economic development. It is included in the region’s strategic long term plan (2008) as a high priority productive sector, “as a result of the city's port development”. Extreme competition, not only in terms of price but also in quality, flexibility, high-end technology and velocity has caused shipyard business to implement technologies in an integral manner to be both effective and efficient. Digital transformation is the structured implementation of several technologies and methodologies that imply hyper-connection to automate and streamline manufacturing, operations and services processes. This study aims to find how digital transformation in logistics processes can leverage supply chain integration in a shipyard company.

It will be analyzed how Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science and the Internet of Things (IoT) can transform key processes such as inventory management, purchasing, foreign trade and administration of relationships with suppliers and customers, generating greater efficiency, cost reduction and improvement in quality.

The proposed research focuses on the implementation of emerging technologies to optimize the entire supply chain within a typical Cartagena shipyard. The study will examine how Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and the Internet of Things (IoT) can transform key processes such as inventory management, procurement, importation, and supplier relationship management, resulting in increased efficiency, cost reduction, and improved quality.