A study on the logistics and performance of a real 'virtual enterprise'

Tenix won the ANZAC Ship Contract in November 1989 to build ten guided missile frigates for the navies of Australia and New Zealand. The ships are planned to have a service life of 25 to 30 years. Within this time period, there will be changes in the operational requirements for these vessels. The ANZAC Ship Alliance is a virtual enterprise formed by Tenix Defence, Saab Systems and the Australian Commonwealth with the aim to provide service support over the lifetime of the 'product'. It is a framework of a dedicated supply chain that coordinates the service supplies across company boundaries. A two-stage study showed that significant changes have to be made within the supply chain in order to adapt practices in individual companies. This paper describes the processes that occurred in the alliance, the techniques that were used to identify the information and work flow in the supply chain.