The unification of robust enabling technologies of the
Internet and ubiquitous access is resulting in market
dynamics that change the way business is being conducted
by electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers.
OEM/EMS enterprise relationships are no longer
one-to-one or even one-to-many. Instead they are
complex, distributed relationships in which many
strategic partners, downstream suppliers and customers
need to collaborate and share data in order to compete
effectively. These new relationships, coupled with
shrinking market windows and other dynamic market
influences, have expiated the birth of the virtual
enterprise or e-factory. pdf
