Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to identification of risks in a brand commodity supply chain. Risks are centrally assessed and a single holistic image of the risk assessment is provided. Specifically, risks are assessed vertically and horizontally across the supply chain, brand, and commodity. Risk identification techniques may be applied to the identified risks to reduce supply chain disruption and to enable continued manufacturing.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of solar panels from scrapped wafers and/or scrapped dies is provided, including the following steps: identifying scrap wafers and/or scrap dies; cleaning and removing remaining structures from the surface of the wafers/dies; grinding both surfaces of the wafers/dies down to a required thickness; doping the wafers/dies; and further processing the wafers/dies using a solar panel manufacturing method.

Abstract: A computerized method of evaluating a questionnaire comprising a set of questions of a category, wherein the method comprises the step of requesting a response for each question of the set of questions from an auditee, wherein each response is given in form of a quantitative value. The method further comprises the steps of determining an auditee specific statistics value from each quantitative value of each response given by the auditee and of requesting a response for each question of the set of questions from at least one auditor, wherein each response is given by the at least one auditor in form of the quantitative value, and wherein to each auditor an auditor weight factor is assigned which is specific for the auditor and for the category. For each auditor an auditor specific statistics value is determined from each quantitative value of each response given by the auditor.

Abstract: A system handling fully automated supplier quality control and enabling quality improvement by using supplier raw data as well as manufacturer manufacturing in-line data is described. The system not only maintains fully automated data transfers and handling, but also enables immediate automated reporting for both the manufacturer and the supplier. Based on this automated notification, communication between sides is thus introduced. The system also enables the transfer from reactive into preventive working mode, concerning supplier quality, giving advantages like early warning, fast feedback. Beyond the so-called automated quality control features, the system supports quality improvement enabling advanced analysis features like yield prediction, specification validation, best of breed analysis, and the like. These capabilities include a close feedback control loop with an adaptation feature to correct the prediction in case of a deviation and/or trend.

Abstract: A system and a corresponding method for the logistic management of supply chains of digitally networked suppliers, wherein supply chain participants that are linked directly within the supply chain are identified and grouped, and wherein, on the side of each of the grouped supply chain participants, logistic requirements for fulfilling local supply activities to the other supply chain participant of the group are determined, logistic information between those two supply chain participants exchanged, and the local logistic requirements on the side of each of the grouped supply chain participants dependent on the contents of the exchanged logistic information controlled. The invention enables decentralized management with considerable less efforts than conventional approaches, wherein collaboration and replenishment between collaborating suppliers are accomplished using a network like the Intranet or Internet.