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TEC White Papers


Browse this free online library for the latest technical white papers, webcasts, and product information to help you make intelligent IT product purchasing decisions.


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Supply Chain Optimization



In the supply chain software market Kinaxis faces stiff competition from the likes of SAP, Oracle, JDA, and Logility, among others, but with double-digit revenue growth for the past seven years the company is obviously doing something right. Supply chain analyst Bob Eastman brings us through Kinaxis' makeovers over the years to a look at the supply chain solution's architecture, then explores the company's innovation strategy as of late, including its pipeline of continual product updates and improvements and focus on its control tower and channel strategy.

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The last three decades have seen a profound shift in how and where tech manufacturing and services are done. There is no doubt that globalization fuels a remarkable explosion in growth opportunities, but there remains considerable risk to manufacturers that follow the outsourcing model. But it is up to the high tech industry to adapt to address the new challenges and new opportunities that have sprung from globalization. This report provides a broad overview of the trends transforming the high tech industry today, and the technologies in play that can help overcome new obstacles and capture new opportunities.

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The dairy industry is grueling. For farmers, the past decade has been a roller coaster of soaring fuel and feed prices and plummeting dairy sales prices, crushing many industry veterans. This white paper is intended to provide a baseline understanding of the historic and present-day challenges players in the industry face that are largely the product of governmental involvement and outside their individual control.

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Over the last five years, leaders in the produce industry have leveraged elements of traceability requirements to increase their competitive advantage; however, more recent innovations in today’s technology, including those related to mobility, are making opportunities from these gains ever more significant as they enable a more cohesive connection among growers, distributors, processors, retailers, and consumers. Read this paper to learn more.

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Your business is in good company if it is considering big data, mobility, and/or green information technology (IT) solutions. Before making an investment decision, however, it should evaluate its options relative to actual business strategies and operating requirements. Only then will it put itself in a position to make a well-informed investment decision. Download this article to learn more.

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This report gives an overview of current considerations for organizations seeking to purchase a supply chain management (SCM) software solution. Based on aggregate data collected from more than 1,400 SCM software comparisons performed using Technology Evaluation Centers’ (TEC’s) TEC Advisor software selection application during 2012, the report details what TEC data reveals about your peers' requirements for SCM solutions, including functionalities, delivery models and access, customization and integration, server and database platforms, and budgeting.

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Collaboration is becoming more and more critical to managing the supply chain process. Collaboration can take many forms in the supply chain, such as visibility, data sharing, collaborative forecasting, outsourcing, sharing resources, or joint processes. Context is needed to understand what is meant by collaboration". In this report, TEC Research Analyst Bob Eastman looks at collaboration and how it relates to demand planning and forecasting, sales and operations planning, vendor-managed inventory, and logistics, and gives important milestones marking the development of the use of collaboration in the supply chain over the last 50 years.

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As the global economy continues to struggle, procurement teams continue to be tasked with looking for ways to control costs. Other recent global events such as natural disasters and commodity price volatility have also left procurement grappling with increasing supply risk. The research presented here examines how many purchasing organizations have already changed their strategies or plan to do so over the next two years.

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Traditionally, enterprise resource planning (ERP) served as a system of record and managed common tasks, transactions, and disparate business processes across the organization. However, the role of ERP has expanded to consider new technology forces that impact the way users interact with systems and new models for software deployment. Likewise, as businesses look to establish themselves as preferred trading partners, strive to cope with economic uncertainty, or extend services and products to new markets, greater demands are now placed on ERP software. Therefore, the role of the ERP system has had to expand. Download this white paper now to learn how today's ERP systems cope with current supply chain challenges.

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This report is based on aggregate data collected from more than 600 SCM software comparisons performed using Technology Evaluation Centers’ TEC Advisor software selection application. Although the characteristics that SCM customers are looking for vary according to the specific SCM software segment being evaluated, TEC data show that at the supply chain suite level organizations are mainly seeking these characteristics: collaborative capabilities, cloud deployment, analytics, adaptive solutions, and in-memory computing.

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Kronos, a software vendor that helps organizations of all sizes in various vertical industries better manage their workforce, revealed its latest workforce management applications at its recent user conference. Get TEC principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic’s insight of these recent Kronos releases and how they can help you realize a multitude of benefits by taking a strategic and comprehensive approach to managing your workforce.

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To satisfy customer requirements profitably, food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers must work at the pace of change, which has accelerated in regulations, consumer buying patterns, and the needs of retail, restaurant, and industrial foodservice customers. Know the three major challenges facing F&B manufacturers today and what they need to do to streamline their operations for greater efficiencies and waste reduction in order to survive.

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Consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers face pressures from fickle consumers, powerful retailers, globalization, and more. The CPG manufacturing industry is large and thriving, but margins are slim and competition is furious. There are hundreds of product categories, and to compete, firms must constantly innovate. See how small-to-medium CPG manufacturers can survive in the face of these external pressures and fewer resources?

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Many organizations struggle to make sense of their big data owing partly to product proliferation. Traditional analytics and data management tools simply do not provide visibility into the sheer number of product variants and options available as well as customer buying trends. See how Emcien’s pattern-based analytics enables analysis of customer buying patterns so that companies can improve the customer experience and increase profits.

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In today’s fast-paced world, companies and their supply chains need to outperform their competitors and remain in business. Logility’s focus on supply chain X-factors can help them do just that. In this latest article, TEC principal analyst Predrag Jakovljevic gives a rundown of the vendor’s recent user conference and how Logility’s broad supply chain management (SCM) solution suite provides the capabilities to enhance your business.

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Working with mass merchandisers is having a significant impact on how food processors and distributors run their businesses. With greater revenues increasingly coming from these giant retail customers, food companies need to find ways to ensure the greatest efficiencies and the lowest costs, without sacrificing quality control or food safety. This white paper outlines best practices for food companies and how an integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can help manage every aspect of the business.

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The food industry today is fraught with certification and standards that require third-party audits into traceability processes and the speed of product recalls. Technology can be your best friend when it comes to doing farm-to-fork traceability in the most efficient and effective way. This white paper explains why the old system for lot tracking and recall won’t make the grade in the new world of compliance.

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Battery Venture's investment in Consona Corporation was one of the last decade's best returns on investment (ROIs) by any private equity firm investing in enterprise software. And there has been a vehement denial of any presumed trade-off between Consona’s research and development (R&D) investment and making money. TEC principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic takes a look at how this deal might’ve been a winning proposition for all parties.

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Global fashion supply chains face a “perfect storm” of risk factors, ranging from volatile materials prices and skyrocketing shipping costs, to uncertainty about the outcome of legislative trade initiatives such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Download this white paper to find out how NGC’s Web-based Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Global Sourcing system can help.

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To increase profits, companies are searching for ways to reduce costs or sell more at the highest possible price. Many companies are turning to imported goods and materials due to lower manufacturing costs, but this can involve many hidden costs. In this paper, PM War Stories and Pronto Software examines how to effectively track the total cost of goods shipped to aid executives in making faster, better sourcing decisions.

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For most companies, chief procurement officers (CPOs) need to maximize savings, focus on sustainability, manage supplier performance, and minimize supplier risk to ensure supply chain continuity. To do all this, CPOs are turning to procurement analytics—to identify areas of low performance, optimize procurement functions, and reduce costs. Know a four-step process to help you deploy and configure a procurement analytics program.

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Many business executives have realized that an operating environment that values cash, profit margins, and risk mitigation plays to the skills and capabilities of a procurement operation. This report draws on the experience, performance, and perspective of nearly 250 chief procurement officers and other procurement executives to provide a comprehensive industry-wide view into the current state of the procurement world. Read more.

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An ERP system is a major investment for any business, particularly a smaller one. A well-planned and implemented ERP system can change the way you do business and significantly improve profitability. But there are pitfalls if you have not prepared properly. In this white paper, Pronto Software outlines critical questions you need to consider in the search, evaluation, and implementation of an ERP solution for your business.

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Though product recalls are never desired, they do happen. Your company’s response can make the difference between being the role model and losing market share or even being displaced from the market. In this white paper, PM War Stories, in collaboration with Pronto Software, examines how to effectively manage a product recall to mitigate liabilities, protect your brand and turn the crisis into an opportunity. Read more.

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To increase profits, many companies are turning to imported goods and materials due to lower manufacturing costs. However, purchasing products from other countries contains many hidden costs. In this paper, PM War Stories, together with Pronto Software, examines how to effectively track the total cost of goods shipped to aid managers and executives in making faster, better sourcing decisions and improving profitability.

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Many companies don’t have adequate metrics or information technology systems to see how well growth strategies and activities perform in real time. This white paper addresses the lack of supply chain synchronization: the ability for a manufacturer to cost effectively respond to changes in demand and then signal everyone in the supply chain. Synchronization closes the gaps in a supply chain that lead to costly wastes.

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These are challenging times for discrete manufacturing, especially for small to midsize companies. To stay competitive and meet rising expectations, manufacturers must seize every opportunity to grow—but wisely and profitably. This white paper presents clear strategies that can help these manufacturers achieve competitive advantage while giving clients the innovative, competitively priced products they demand.

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As manufactures adopt lean principles, the process inevitably involves developing metrics for measuring their progress. But measurements are linked throughout the organization, not just on the manufacturing floor but in accounts payable and other back office processes. This white paper emphasizes the need to focus on strategy deployment.

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The longstanding silos within organizations may be ready for busting, and the right IT strategy can facilitate the collaboration needed to break them down, even extending to suppliers, customers, and partners, integrating all processes from idea to delivery. This paper features an interview with SAP’s heads of solution marketing for product lifecycle management and for supply chain management about the idea-to-delivery concept.

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Today’s “new normal” business environment demands a new view of what customers value and an improved approach to delivering that value. The idea to delivery (I2D) framework posits that multiple companies now compete as a business network rather than as individual enterprises, each relying on the others to achieve collective success. This paper includes an action plan with the evolutionary steps companies can take to move toward this approach.

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To boost efficiency, run leaner, and drive down the cost of supply, many organizations are exploring inventory optimization—a technique for improving operational inventory targets to address the realities of today’s highly complex, ever-evolving global supply chains. This paper examines how the stochastic multistage, multi-inventory model supports inventory optimization.

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As competition increases and more organizations turn to outsourcing, networked business environments are becoming the norm. Many businesses are strategically partnering with suppliers and other supply chain participants to collaborate and share information. This white paper addresses three common questions from organizations that are collaborative supply chain networks and offers ways to help achieve supply chain success.

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For manufacturers of long lifecycle products, the challenge of ensuring perpetual supply is complicated by the prospect of unpredictable supplier turnover and the accelerating obsolescence of vital parts and materials. This white paper discusses JDA Software’s vision for the practices and technology required to ensure perpetual supply for products with extended lifespans and highly complex BOMs, and offers recommendations.

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In today’s competitive global environment, with a proliferation of new products, channels, and SKU counts, maintaining inventory levels that synchronize supply with demand is a complex challenge that carries steep consequences if not handled properly. Transform your planning, execution, and optimization processes into a competitive advantage by leveraging a shared picture of demand across your supply and demand chain.

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While globalization has resulted in many bottom-line benefits, it has simultaneously increased the level of complexity and uncertainty by which companies operate today, making the S&OP process more critical to a company’s success than ever before. Read further and see how companies that embrace an integrated S&OP framework will benefit from improved company-wide visibility, strategic alignment, and financial accountability.

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While change is never easy, continuing with an outdated process does not help companies to stay competitive. Learn how transforming your S&OP process from a supply-demand balancing exercise to a strategic approach that integrates your entire business can increase supply chain visibility, improve customer service, and ensure a better balance between demand, capacity, and profitability. And know the Top 10 myths in S&OP.

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Sales and operations planning (S&OP) is the key integrated process that the supply chain organization can leverage to achieve visibility and transformation across the entire organization and throughout the value chain. This white paper explores the current business challenges face by companies, the priority allocated to S&OP, the maturity levels associated with S&OP, and the role of technology enablers.

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Over 190 companies were surveyed regarding their challenges within demand-supply networks and the top priorities for managing these networks. This paper is based on an analysis of that survey and highlights the need for companies to focus on intelligent response management strategies that bridge planning and execution.

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Establishing the right metrics framework as part of an overall performance management strategy means companies can break down enterprise-level goals—such as order fulfillment and forecast accuracy—into department-level metrics such as on-time delivery and plant utilization. Read about a model that makes it easier to identify, communicate, and replicate the most effective practices.

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The increased complexity of global supply chains has led to longer lead time, more pipeline inventory, and the need to control downstream and upstream logistics. Growing supply chain complexity is a top business pressure, contributing to increased supply chain management costs. This report focuses on gaining visibility into critical elements across the end-to-end logistics network for improving cost and service.

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While change is never easy, continuing with an outdated process does not help companies to stay competitive. Learn how transforming your S&OP process from a supply-demand balancing exercise to a strategic approach that integrates your entire business can increase supply chain visibility, improve customer service, and ensure a better balance between demand, capacity, and profitability. And know the Top 10 myths in S&OP.

Read More

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Today, more and more manufacturing companies are exploring business processes that enable alignment between financial and operational goals. Results from a 2011 S&OP survey suggest that S&OP process investments are yielding tangible fruit. Understanding current challenges these companies are attempting to overcome should enable more effective functional alignment that delivers profitable growth and customer satisfaction.

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To achieve a high level of supply chain transparency, companies must share their technology systems and data with many suppliers, distributors, transportation carriers, and channel partners that bring their products to market. This information may be seen by thousands worldwide. While there are doubtless benefits to be achieved, increased data sharing also carries an inherent level of risk. Know how to manage these risks.

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Significant changes are occurring in the global landscape that require a fresh look at one of the most important business processes in the supply chain—demand management. Companies that more accurately predict product demand and integrate a single view of demand into operational planning are poised to win in today’s competitive landscape. Read this white paper and gain strategic insights for accurate demand planning.

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Strategic inventory management requires a deep understanding of how the end-to-end supply chain is managed. From intelligently micro-segmenting products to creating continuous inventory process improvements, few businesses are capable of transforming their inventory into a competitive advantage. Some forward-looking leaders—backed by technology and expertise from JDA—are changing the definition of inventory optimization. Read how.

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In today’s transformed business world, the push-based manufacturing philosophy and the siloed planning processes of the past are proving insufficient to manage ongoing demand volatility. Supply chain leaders have moved to a push/pull-based planning paradigm that synchronizes the supply chain with real-world market demand—while also respecting asset utilization, production cost, and other operational constraints. Read more.

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If you are thinking about implementing SAP's supplier relationship management (SRM) system, you will want to read this white paper to learn about a new "consumer-like" user interface (UI) specifically developed to dramatically simplify the shopping experience within SAP's Materials Management (MM) module. This UI provides a self-serve solution that saves time and money, and increases user adoption and compliance.

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As a manufacturer your fate is tied to your ERP system. Whether you use a homegrown system, a generic, stand-alone ERP package, or a highly modified best-of-breed solution with a patchwork of third-party applications, there is a risk that your solution will become outdated and will not be able to meet the needs of your business. If this is the case, here are three major reasons to help you justify an ERP system replacement.

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Production has stopped at your establishment due to an issue with one of your ingredients. It would be so much easier if everyone had access to the required information with a simple push of a button. As a food and beverage manufacturer, you have unique industry requirements. This white paper from Solarsoft explores why an integrated ERP system specific to your industry may be better suited than a generic ERP system.

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For many manufacturers, traceability is a valiant goal. But, for food and beverage producers, it’s a critical requirement. No one wants to put a single person at risk, let alone tens or hundreds. Yet, incidents of food-borne illnesses show up in the news every day. If your company is ready to tackle traceability as a legitimate problem, and stop viewing it as a trendy buzzword, there are four things you’ll need to know.

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Of the 30 billion invoices sent and received in Europe every year, more than 90% are in paper format. This is not only labour intensive and error prone, but comes at both a financial and environmental cost. Such manual operations slow invoice reconciliation, leading to poor relationships with suppliers and buyers and, potentially, poor cash flow management. This paper discusses the challenges posed by inefficient manual invoice processes, the need for e-invoicing, and how an organization can focus on its core business by handing over invoice processing to a managed service provider.

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Even as manufacturers and retailers seek to control costs and drive efficiency across the supply chains, controlling the financial impact of unsaleable products remains a constant challenge. A study conducted by Wipro Technologies in collaboration with Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) estimates that the potential cost impact of unsaleables is over $2 billion annually. This study identifies the multitude of challenges involved in unsaleables management and provides a comprehensive operational roadmap for tackling them. It also lays out specific strategies addressing shelf-life management, product rotation execution, product dating variances, consumer confusions, and demand chain management. Find out more. Download this study now.

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Looking to start a project? Whether you start with a services-based approach, or acquire a comprehensive solution, the savings and ROI are dramatic. We recommend starting with spend visibility. Identify quick-win opportunities to get the momentum going and let the spend intelligence/spend management grow within your organization as another very valuable application to enhance your company’s efficiency and effectiveness

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Freight costs can represent a significant component of your supply chain—often around 5-7 percent of sales for manufacturing, retail, and wholesale/distribution companies. For many firms, this responsibility is not managed as well as it could be. This white paper shares 10 best practices in transportation management, with valuable insights from industry professionals.

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Epicor ERP Software System (v. 9.05) is now TEC Certified for online evaluation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for distributors in the ERP Evaluation Center. The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations relying on the integrity of TEC research for assistance with their software selection projects. Download this report for product highlights, competitive analysis, product analysis, and in-depth analyst commentary.

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Manufacturers previously tracked suppliers and their deliveries of goods in a predictable method that often resulted in errors. For small to midsized suppliers eager to adopt more efficient communications with customers but lacking access to an EDI-compliant system, supplier portals are an alternative cost-saving solution. See how supplier portals add increased efficiency, quality, and transparency to the supply chain.

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Wholesale distributors face two fundamental challenges. The first: to create an environment where processes and services can be rapidly tailored to the changing needs of customers and suppliers. The second deals with technology. To stay competitive, distributors must view their business models from a customer perspective, and build a technology stack that enhances their trading partners’ performance as well as their own.

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Today’s manufacturing supply chain is challenged with quality mandates, cost reductions, and delivery improvements. Technology plays a key role in a company’s ability to build and manage an effective supply chain. Read this paper to learn about the next wave of supply chain solutions and how effective supply chain management of an enterprise reduces costs, lead times, and inventories throughout the entire supply chain.

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Manufacturers and retailers are making great demands on their supply chains, and no one is better positioned to turn these challenges into growth opportunities than wholesale distribution companies. This white paper addresses how wholesalers can take advantage of these opportunities with an application that offers warehouse management features for even the most complex wholesale distribution environment.

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Forward-looking companies are focusing on managing supply chain risk. The same functionality that supports supply chain network visibility, collaboration, and analytics can also enable supply chain risk management. This white paper shows that companies often actually possess the data they need, but disconnected systems impede the ability to make the right data accessible to the right people at the right time.

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Economic volatility over the past several years has been illustrated by the highly unstable raw material, fuel, and commodity prices, and has been the cause of a majority of supply chain disruptions over the past year. This white paper highlights the challenges and solutions in complex industry supply chains, and best practices in multi-enterprise visibility and supply chain intelligence.

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Many organizations in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry are experiencing a trade-off between the benefit of high product volume sales coming at the expense of extreme data complexity. Many CPG organizations are seeking business intelligence (BI) tools to help create supply chain linkages and deliver their products more efficiently. See how BI tools can help business managers better manage fluctuating product demand.

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The retail thought process has irrevocably changed. Science-supported process is now core to the merchandising discipline. However, faith in science is not always grounded in an understanding of what it can do (even for the largest retailers), leaving us with some concerns about unrealistic expectations and a backlash later in the decade. Read about the seven critical tenets for 21st-century merchandising.

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This white paper presents an overview of IFS Applications for asset management of nuclear power plants, including corrective, preventive, and condition-based maintenance functionality for safe work management in a hazardous environment. Also included are asset lifecycle management tools to track changes to the assets that affect operational limits and conditions (OLCs).

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This business management solution is an affordable offering that supports profitable growth, enables business agility, and empowers your employees. It’s comprehensive, easy-to-use software that supports all stakeholders across your company as well as your extended ecosystem. Read about how you can grow your business, develop relationships, accelerate innovation, and streamline operations.

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With acceptance of cloud-based strategies growing among manufacturers of all types and sizes, it’s easier than ever to make the business case for transitioning to the cloud. But beyond the cost savings and responsiveness of cloud solutions, this transition also provides new opportunities for the IT department to grow into a key role as strategic business advisor. This report includes advice on how IT can help manufacturers realize the full benefits of cloud-based solutions.

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Universities and other higher education establishments have to address the need for savings across the board. One area is expenses from faculty members and other associated with faculty. The complex mix of expense types needs a flexible yet solid means of managing spend as close as possible to the point of expense that encourages the individual to participate in the process without it being seen as an imposition. Know how.

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The Demand Management product Demand Solutions is now TEC Certified for online evaluation of demand management solutions in the Supply Chain Management (SCM) Evaluation Center. The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations relying on the integrity of TEC research for assistance with their software selection projects. Download this report for product highlights, competitive analysis, product analysis, and in-depth analyst commentary.

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Fabricated metals companies need to create a competitive advantage around their core competencies, demonstrated by their ability to respond quickly to change, efficiently manage relationships with suppliers, and deliver quality products on time. Read about a solution that provides these companies with transparency and control over their entire business, empowering them to respond immediately to issues and opportunities.

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Distribution ERP software product VAI S2K Enterprise Management, Version 5.0.1, is now TEC Certified for online comparison of ERP systems in TEC's Evaluation Centers. The certification seal is a valuable indicator for organizations relying on the integrity of TEC research for assistance with their software selection projects. Download this report for product highlights, competitive analysis, product analysis, and in-depth analyst commentary.

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It’s time for a new approach to talent management that takes into account the uncertainty businesses face today. Fortunately, companies already have a model that has been well honed over decades to anticipate and meet demand in uncertain environments—supply chain management (SCM). By borrowing lessons from operations and supply chain research, firms can forge a better model of talent management. Find out how.

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For apparel and textile companies, delocalized production and complex supply networks make it difficult to coordinate with trade partners and maintain product traceability. Price pressure, competition, and demanding customers erode margins and increase the urgency of cost control and fast time-to-market. Discover software that can help these companies integrate information, improve efficiency, and enhance profitability.

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Mature sales and operations planning (S&OP) is more than a sales forecasting or tactical planning tool. S&OP is a decision-making mechanism for aligning strategic plans with sales, operational, and financial plans. Download this TEC executive brief for pointers on selecting an S&OP system, information about how mature S&OP processes can help tackle critical business issues, and key S&OP system capabilities to look for.

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Manufacturers are under pressure to document their impact on the environment. This white paper addresses the various drivers for the green supply chain trend. It also shares considerations for satisfying a customer’s green supply chain initiative or initiating your own. Finally, it discusses the role of enterprise software like enterprise resource planning (ERP) in keeping pace with this industry trend.

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Adoption of enterprise resource planning (ERP)-based E-Procurement solutions has hit a plateau in recent years due to inherent usability deficiencies, exacerbated by heightened user expectations. It is now possible to leverage all the existing infrastructure of leading platforms with a friendlier, consumer-like user interface (UI) that can be rapidly deployed with minimal cost or change management impact. Find out how.

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This radio frequency identification (RFID) buyer's guide from Raftar Corpo. is a resource for medical device companies with plans to evaluate or deploy RFID technology. It includes assessment models for making design and selection decisions about process improvement benchmarks, the system components and cost for a solution, technical evaluation criteria, and questions to include in a request for information (RFI).

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Business intelligence (BI) is no longer just for back-office analysts. More people are using BI in their daily tasks than ever before. This white paper explains how job scheduling makes data warehousing—the key component in modern BI—more efficient, relevant, and accurate. It also outlines how one company used job scheduling to unify its data warehousing chores, free up IT resources, and increase its BI effectiveness.

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After expanding its product lines and accelerating product roll-outs, the Campbell Soup Company needed to align demand forecasting and supply chain planning with its new, more dynamic business model. Learn how the company’s new solution helped it improve inventory forecasting, adapt to day-to-day changes in demand, enhance long-range production planning and risk management, and spend more time on strategic activities.

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Supply chain executives face considerable complexity—especially if the items being produced and distributed are seasonal, and meeting revenue targets hinges on the sales that take place in just a few months of the year. Discover how business intelligence (BI) solutions help the Molson Coors Brewing company’s planners shape, execute, and continually redefine the strategic direction for the organization’s supply chain.

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Today’s business software packages depend on real-time data collection to provide information crucial to the entire manufacturing operation. As more companies turn to enterprise-wide software for process improvement and cost reduction, there is a significant opportunity to enhance these systems by adding bar coding and radio-frequency identification (RFID) applications throughout manufacturing facilities. Find out more.

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Today, companies are facing tougher competition and increasing service level requirements, all while balancing growth with shorter phase-in/phase-out cycles for new products. To succeed, they must harness information technology to support change, secure data and process quality, and improve productivity. Discover how a warehouse management system (WMS) can help you achieve those goals, and learn what to look for in a WMS.

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Despite increased use of key performance indicators (KPIs), supply chain managers’ measurement initiatives continue to come up short. Because of their retrospective nature, KPIs offer little value to today’s complex supply chains. But several market-leading companies are using network-wide KPIs, supported by real-time alerts, to flag problems early, intervene as needed, and improve business results. Find out how.

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In today’s competitive markets, manufacturers and distributors are challenged to achieve supply chain efficiencies that are on par with their rivals. To stay profitable, they must adopt key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive processes. But KPI-driven supply chain execution requires manufacturers and distributors to instrument, analyze, control, and optimize their end-to-end supply chain processes. Find out more.

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It's a sad but well-known fact that many software implementation projects run out of time and money. Certain crucial activities tend to have striking effects on the cost of an implementation. But it's possible to stick to plans and budgets, provided that you do the right things and avoid the traps. Discover which parts of a software implementation are worth spending extra money on in order to minimize risk and cost.

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Supply chain planning involves functions such as demand forecasting and planning, distribution inventory planning, and plant capacity planning and scheduling. The right mix of strategy, education, and systems can have a very high impact on a manufacturer’s overall operations—and ultimately its bottom line. Understand how supply chain functions such as demand and inventory planning can positively impact your company.

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For industries in regulated environments, validation of processes and systems is a required part of business. The goal of the validation process is to provide confidence in a process or system by demonstrating consistent and repeatable results through documented evidence. This article provides an overview of a validation for a computer software system, for compliance with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

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Food safety has been top-of-mind for both consumers and industry executives for a number of years. Clearly traceability plays a large role in overall food safety, and in general food and beverage processors are doing better than many other industries. However, the stakes are high when it comes to food safety and there is still a lot of room for improvement, especially upstream in the food supply chain. Find out more.

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Today’s manufacturing supply chain is challenged with increasing quality mandates, cost reductions, and delivery improvements. Technology plays a key role in a company’s ability to build and manage an effective supply chain. Discover the next wave of innovative supply chain solutions, and find out how one manufacturer used them to reduce cost, lead times, and inventories throughout its entire supply chain.

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The rising price of fuel has set in motion a series of more profound changes for both consumers and industry. But those companies that take comfort from the recent easing of fuel prices and whose management actions go no further than attempts to mitigate the immediate impact of fuel price increases will end up at a serious disadvantage in the market. Find out how your company can find opportunity in changing fuel markets.

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Wholesale distributors that pursue growth while neglecting supply chain effectiveness are putting their long-term survival at risk—usually for no good reason. Supply chains have gained complexity in recent years, but solutions for achieving supply chain management (SCM) effectiveness have become both more accessible and easier to deploy. Learn how these solutions can help your company overcome its SCM challenges.

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Increased globalization, volatility in demand and commodity costs, regulatory requirements, and greater dependency on suppliers and other partners have significantly increased the risk of doing business. To manage performance efficiently, midsize companies need a unified planning, budgeting, and consolidation solution. Learn how such a solution can streamline the planning process and help reduce business risk.

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To expedite planning production, many companies have gone the way of integration with a manufacturing resource planning (MRP) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Although these systems have paved the way in planning production, they can leave a lot to be desired. Learn how manufacturing production scheduling (MPS) can be enhanced by finite scheduling and advanced planning and scheduling (APS) systems.

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Supply chain management is a long-term strategy. The centerpiece for supply chain execution—the warehouse management system (WMS)—is an excellent place to start preparing your business for the return of the bull market. Discover how a well-tuned WMS can help your business reduce labor costs, improve inventory management, attain more accurate shipments, improve space allocation, and increase customer satisfaction.

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Many manufacturers and distributors have embraced the lean philosophy. But the tight controls necessary for success with Lean can leave companies vulnerable to supply disruptions, production problems, quality issues, and abrupt changes in demand. Learn how making your manufacturing operations and supply chain flexible can help reduce operational costs, increase cash flow, increase company value, and grow your business.

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A flexible enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can be the foundation for a complete overhaul of your business processes—providing numerous benefits over a set of disparate software systems. Find out how an ERP solution can help your company automate the movement of information, improve decision making, create disciplined workflows, and provide the agility needed to accommodate virtually any type of business change.

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Staples Brand Group (SBG), the group responsible for products carrying the Staples brand name, offers a wide range of products, from items as simple as pencil leads to complex products such as ergonomic office chairs. Learn about the solutions SBG uses to drive global sourcing, track costs and shipments, and achieve the lowest possible product costs with 99 percent on-time deliveries across global suppliers and customers.

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For many organizations in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, the cost of high product volume sales is extreme data complexity. This affects line-of-business managers in marketing, sales, manufacturing, and procurement, who must derive tangible business value from this quagmire of data. Find out how business intelligence (BI) solutions are helping CPG managers get faster access to relevant business data.

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To stay competitive, organizations are looking for ways to facilitate a smoother and more optimized global supply chain. But while companies are turning to business intelligence (BI) tools, many lack the ability to escape the gravity well of becoming data-rich while remaining information-poor. Learn how leading companies have eliminated the obstacles that hinder their ability to make better business decisions.

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For all but the smallest companies, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system promises big gains, by helping to grow revenue, increase productivity, improve efficiency, and manage costs. Right now, ERP for the midmarket is a hot topic. More and more midsized companies are replacing outdated ERP software or are jumping into ERP technology for the first time. Find out about what midmarket ERP buyers need to know.

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Mitsubishi Electric Europe thought its enterprise resource planning (ERP) would address all of its reporting requirements. But long-term, this proved difficult to sustain, due to the company’s ever-changing procedures. So Mitsubishi decided to invest in a tool that would integrate data from disparate systems, speed up the delivery of information, and provide dashboard, analysis, and reporting capabilities. Find out more.

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In a challenging economy, many companies focus cost-cutting on direct materials and capital spending rather than maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies (also known as indirect materials). But an alternate concept allows you to implement lean processes to create a high-efficiency MRO outsource model. Find out how it offers greater visibility and promotes continuous improvement along the indirect supply chain.

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This may be a challenging economic period, but smart companies will use it as an opportunity to examine operational efficiency and best practices to reap benefits once the market improves. Your warehouse management system (WMS), a vital component of the supply chain execution suite, should be a key contributor in the search for cost-saving efficiencies—as well as the integration of your global supply chains. Learn more.

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Collaboration is critical to success, as companies have to give customers and partners access to their information and services in order to compete with the speed and responsiveness today’s markets demand. But trying to implement the systems you need to support collaboration—such as warehouse management systems (WMSs) or supply chain execution (SCE) solutions—in the face of ongoing change is not easy. Learn more.

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The adage “you can’t manage what you can’t measure” is true of many things in warehouse management, but perhaps nowhere more so than for the productivity of your workforce. Payroll is typically the largest single expense in the warehouse, and so many companies are using warehouse management systems (WMSs) and other technologies to do more in less time. But a labor management solution might do more for you—find out how.

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The era of manual warehouse operations is drawing to a close—with good reason. No matter how efficient your employees are, managing space and maintaining inventory with ad hoc spreadsheets or legacy systems doesn’t provide the accuracy or visibility into the supply chain that you need to succeed. A best-of-breed warehouse management system (WMS) can support your efforts to reduce costs and boost productivity. Learn how.

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The current market is asking retailers some difficult questions—ones their existing processes and tools can’t answer. It takes a mix of science, retail intelligence, and merchandising art to ensure that every store in a supply chain carries the right inventory, while maintaining a high service level and market share. Learn how to better respond to the demands of consumers and rationalize your assortment at a local level.

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Suppliers to the oil and gas industry are under more pressure than ever before to increase quality, collaborate closely with the customer, and take on more project risk. Learn how enterprise resource planning (ERP) helps engineers procure construction companies, equipment fabricators, and service providers to meet the new demands from oil and gas companies. Download this white paper to learn more.

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Organizations managing a fleet often operate on razor-thin margins. A recession can further deplete fleet companies’ purses, resulting in reduced scale of operations, lower profits, and process inefficiencies. Visibility is key to fleet optimization and can be achieved with a fleet management system. Learn how to maximize the availability of your resources and lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) of your mobile assets.

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Up to 75 percent of a company’s carbon footprint comes from transport and logistics functions, in the context of goods storage and distribution. Today, logistics companies are going green not just out of goodwill or compliance requirements, but also because savings in carbon emissions from green initiatives directly translate into cost savings. Consequently, emissions management and reporting are important. Learn more.

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Have you come to the conclusion that your company needs a supply chain planning system? Do you need to provide management and other key decision makers with reasons why you need a supply chain planning system? One way that a supply chain planning system can help you is by enforcing best practices and processes. Get more details on this and 10 other reasons why you should implement a supply chain system that works for you.

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The global march toward making products and services more sustainable is gaining breadth and speed. No manufacturer will be left untouched by this phenomenon. To thrive in this new low-carbon world, you need to have a deeper and more sophisticated understanding of your products’ environmental footprint—from raw materials to manufacturing to distribution to end of life. Learn about life cycle methodologies that can help.

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Two-thirds of the 400 survey participants in a 2007 Aberdeen report about inventory management place a high priority on working capital optimization. Many companies are reconsidering their business strategies, including implementing appropriate technology platforms that help automate supply chain processes. Learn about cost-effective and practical ways to reduce inventory so that working capital can be released.

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R.G. Barry, a leading developer and marketer of accessory footwear, lacked real-time visibility into production schedules at its factories. As a result, the company built more safety stock, required long lead times, and could not quickly update customers on the status of their orders. Find out how a new Web-based global sourcing solution helped R.G. Barry free up cash and minimize the risk of carrying excess inventory.

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As a successful, rapidly growing apparel company with seven separate divisions, Maggy London needed to streamline its product development lifecycle, improve communications, and eliminate duplication of work. Find out how the company was able to select product lifecycle management (PLM), global sourcing, and inventory control solutions that helped it streamline daily operations and become a more efficient organization.

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Recently introduced Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) regulations include labor-intensive safety and testing guidelines for children’s products, footwear, and apparel. Brands and retailers that may have slashed jobs in response to the weak economy must meet these regulations with fewer people. Learn about solutions that help your company make compliance part of a comprehensive supply chain strategy.

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To ensure the safety of domestic and global food supplies, demands for brand protection assurance are on the rise from customers in the food industry marketplace itself. To address these requirements, food processors and distribution warehouses now find automated traceability systems a necessity. Discover an automated approach to traceability that’s both cost-effective and a good fit for your current business operations.

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Due to their limitations, using spreadsheets to manage mission-critical business functions is an unacceptable risk. The requirements for finding the right inventory in the right place at the right time are being hampered by spreadsheet forecasts based on inappropriate source data. Packaged software with inventory management and collaborative capabilities will give your supply chain a competitive advantage. Learn how.

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The requirements of operating in a global, just-in-time (JIT) market have made supply chains much more complex than they were 10 years ago. Much of the software meant to assist in managing this complexity has itself become too complex to use—and too expensive to cost-justify. Discover the benefits of using a less complex supply chain solution that better supports a collaborative effort along your supply chain.

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Fetco Home Decor, designer and wholesaler of fashion frames and other décor products, was relying on Excel spreadsheets to perform its forecasting process. The lack of accuracy and accessibility resulted in ineffective forecasting—and higher-than-necessary inventory levels. After a quick implementation of a planning and forecasting solution, Fetco reduced inventory by 25 percent without affecting customer service levels.

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Peerless Pump has been designing, engineering, and manufacturing pumps for more than 80 years. The company was basing component stock levels on historical data, as it did not have the ability to accurately forecast customer demand. But with forecasting and demand planning software that increased forecast accuracy, the company has nearly doubled its sales over the past four years, while keeping inventory levels constant.

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Heineken USA imports, markets, sells, and distributes its premium beer products through its network of 650 beer distributors. This supply chain requires precise forecasts and meticulous planning—and an easy-to-understand forecasting tool that provides greater transparency in the collaborative forecasting process. Discover more about the benefits of the forecasting solution on Heineken’s sales and operations planning.

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Aside from geographic challenges, Kyocera—distributor of document management devices—also grapples with three-month lead times, purchase-order constraints, and stocking commitments. Forecasting accuracy is critical to a company that has to manage frequent model changes and short life-cycle products. Find out about the demand and forecast management solution the company uses to ensure consistent and accurate reporting.

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Terumo Cardiovascular Systems, global manufacturer and distributor of medical products, has more than 1,500 finished goods, many of which are assembled in one factory and sterilized in another. With so many products and steps in the supply chain, supply and demand planning abilities are key to smooth operations. Find out how the company saved $1 million (USD) with forecast management and requirements planning solutions.

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Currently, India’s population is approximately 1.0009 billion. The middle class is large and still growing; wages were low, but now are some of the best in various industries; many workers are well educated and speak English; and investors are optimistic and local stocks are up. Despite political turmoil, the country presses on with economic reforms. But for potential investors, there’s still cause for worry—find out why.

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“Last-mile supply chain services” is an evolving segment of the supply chain industry, but a cutting-edge segment that has evolved as supply chain managers across the US struggle to cope with the inadequacies of the current globalized supply chain model. Learn five reasons why current supply chain models are flawed and how you can use a new architecture to balance supply chain risk, globalized sourcing, and economics.

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At a time when many companies are concerned about operational expenditure, a business assurance system with consultancy can help. Instead of randomly entering a remediation program whenever a major fault is found, use the business assurance system. The following areas have seen results: revenue management, customer acquisition and retention, credit management and bad debt recovery, supply chain management, among others.

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Pronto Software—Australian vendor of software meeting the needs of a range of vertical industries such as retail and food and beverage—wants to ensure it sustains profitable growth. To find partnerships with value-added resellers (VARs) in North America and in other markets, Pronto relies on Technology Evaluation Centers’ (TEC’s) software industry programs. Learn about the other ways Pronto benefits from using TEC.

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Companies are under huge pressure to cut all SAP-related costs and are seeking every opportunity to exploit their huge investments in SAP to reduce total business expenses. A survey of 18 respondents reveals how companies are seeing the potential to squeeze further costs savings by exploiting SAP software investments, especially in enterprise resource management (ERP) and supply chain business process areas. Learn more.

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imgHeaderSep


The debate over climate change is quickly coming to a close and will soon be replaced by a new debate about policy alternatives. These policies will affect business in striking ways, through end-use efficiency standards, increased energy costs, and increased prices of raw materials and components. Take the most important action: analyze and understand your direct and supply chain emissions of greenhouse gases. Learn more.

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Dorcy, a global distributor of flashlights and batteries, manufactures its product line in Taiwan, China, and Korea, and repackages products in two US warehouses to ship to major retailers. With 2,500 items in its inventory—approaching $12 million (USD) at any given time—Dorcy needs a warehouse management system (WMS) that automates reports and provides real-time inventory data. Learn about the solution it uses.

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Every distributor and manufacturer can find ways to optimize processes. But there are key challenges to infusing efficiency and profitability into your established inventory management practices. Learn about common challenges and roadblocks to converting inventory from cost to competitive advantage—and learn from the nine “worst practices” that can help you benchmark your current inventory management strategy.

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You rely on a warehouse management system (WMS) to maintain ongoing operations, support changing customer requirements, keep up with industry regulations, and simply get product out the door on a daily basis. But a faltering system may also be constraining your global potential. Find out how to determine if your current WMS system is hindering your ability to execute business strategies that help you grow your business.

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Talent management is just a matter of anticipating the need for human capital and then creating a plan to meet it. But many approaches to talent management fail, as they’re based on outdated forecasting models. But you can anticipate and meet demand in an uncertain environment by borrowing lessons from operations and supply chain research—and forge a new way of looking at succession planning and talent management.

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Promising to transform the way products are developed, product lifecycle management (PLM) is one of the fastest-growing areas of technology investment for retailers and brands alike. But why should your company consider PLM? Find out why successful PLM implementations are initiated to support key strategic objectives, and how PLM can ultimately improve your profitability through enhanced operational efficiency.

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With goals to decrease operating costs and increase sales, Hayward—a leader in the building materials industry—knew it needed to replace its 25-year-old software with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that would enable business process re-engineering and more. The solution Hayward chose enabled it to more effectively manage its supply chain and generate bottom-line value to customers. Find out why.

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With rapid growth and revenues exceeding $100 million (USD), Quality Bicycle Products is under increasing pressure to meet demand. To keep driving growth, QBP realized its forecasting capabilities and performance would need to be optimized. To help meet the needs of these efforts, QBP began looking at an inventory and demand planning solution. Discover more about the supply chain management (SCM) solution it chose.

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Endries International, distributor of products for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), aims to develop partnerships by helping customers meet their cost reduction, vendor consolidation, and productivity improvement goals. But Endries knew its old software wouldn’t enable long-term growth or manage business changes. With the new solution, processes such as demand planning are more accurate and efficient. Find out why.

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Global sourcing, an erratic economy, and extended supply operations are just a few threats to the profitability and growth of your distribution environment. But if you extend the capabilities of your existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, you can better meet demands, maximize inventory, and increase operational efficiency. Learn how supply chain optimization is easier with an ERP for distribution solution.

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Survey data shows that companies want to improve their strategic business partnerships. Reflecting on lessons learned from past business relationships, 60 percent of respondents say that in future they’ll place more emphasis on developing personal relationships and setting expectations with business partners. Find out how these companies are creating collaborative networks that include business partners and consumers.

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As one of the fastest-growing home shopping retailers in the UK, JD Williams sells products through its 45 Web sites and more than 700 annual catalogs. To better face the challenges of its Internet sales—and to take advantage of opportunities—JD Williams began an end-to-end supply chain initiative, with a merchandise life cycle management solution suite. Learn how it helped the company increase sales in key departments.

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Rapid growth plus the need to continually offer new seasonal products led American Eagle to replace its old sourcing and order management systems while unifying product design, sourcing, and merchant processes. The company didn’t want to completely replace its legacy solution, however; it was important that its global supplier base adopt the solution too. Learn about the Web-based sourcing solution the company chose.

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Deutsche Woolworth has been in business for over 75 years. After splitting off from its American parent company, the company’s restructuring efforts focused on purchasing processes. It was discovered that there was no purchase planning in place, and no visibility into shipments and goods en route from suppliers. The company deployed a solution that reduced inventory levels by up to 90 percent. Find out how.

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Developing a core competency in global sourcing is one of the critical business initiatives for retailers and channel masters. By understanding exactly how global sourcing strategies impact margins, retailers can develop creative product categories that push margins and profit higher. What do you need to master global sourcing techniques? What technologies should you use? Find out, with the five stages of global sourcing.

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If your company is “fighting fires” daily to meet customer demand, then you’re already losing customers and missing new sales. Today, business is conducted in real time, which requires flexibility and responsiveness. It’s these two attributes—along with reduced costs—that are the most beneficial in managing for optimal inventory levels. Find out how you can better plan and manage your inventory for long-term survival.

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Electronic product code information services (EPCIS) is a standard mechanism for inter-company collaboration and data sharing, which can enable health care partners to deploy solutions that meet short-term mandates driven by patient safety, as well as lay the foundation for long-term business value. Learn more about the impact of EPCIS in a study concerning data management and data sharing in the health care supply chain.

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Nowadays, it’s easy to spend nearly as much time trying to make the pieces of your supply chain work together as you actually spend working. Managing disparate systems and solving communication issues create challenges that keep your business-to-business (B2B) solutions from working in sync. Find out how integrating the technology, business processes, and communication of your entire business community can help.

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Leading companies are increasing the percentage of perfect orders and reducing costs by exchanging documents with trading partners via electronic data interchange (EDI). Diverse trading partner capabilities and high-cost value-added network (VAN) fees, however, can pose barriers to even greater success. Learn about a solution that can help remove those barriers and let you exchange data regardless of format.

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Accurate product data is key to retail success. Merchandise planning, purchasing, inventory management, and logistics all depend on accurate initial item setup, as well as ongoing updates. But globalization has brought a variety of standards, making it more complex to ensure data accuracy. Learn about a product data synchronization solution that can help synchronize your product data with your global trading community.

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For many retailers, the transition to global sourcing and demand-driven inventory models creates both opportunities and challenges. Supply chains are becoming longer, with a smaller buffer for mistakes or delays. To continually improve, you need to gain visibility across your partner community. Find out how a partner performance management solution can help buyers and sellers work together to improve business processes.

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While an electronic data interchange (EDI) initiative improves supply chain communication and speeds up the exchange of goods and services, it is a complicated undertaking. To get started, learn how Inovis Professional Services array of consulting and training offerings, including assessments and technology planning, can help you implement mission-critical integrated solutions efficiently and cost-effectively.

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imgHeaderSep


Early in 2004, software service provider Vermont Information Processing (VIP) saw an opportunity to help beverage producers drive down costs, improve productivity, and increase the accuracy of their business processes through automated supply chain communication solutions—or electronic data interchange (EDI) solutions. Find out why VIP chose Inovis’ suite of EDI solutions, and how it and its clients are benefiting.

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Achieving perfection in all of its transactions is important for shipping companies like Yantian—perfection that can only come with automation. While Yantian uses industry-standard electronic data interchange (EDI) to exchange transaction documents, it must accommodate the wide variety of media, formats, and protocols shippers use. Find out how Yantian used a server solution to simplify its trading partner management.

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Big Lots, the largest closeout retailer in the United States (US), needed a way to manage vendors, and get its products to stores as quickly as possible. The company chose Inovis Partner Performance Management—an on-demand, service-oriented architecture (SOA)-based solution—as its supplier management system. Learn how this solution helped Big Lots share data with vendors, reduce errors, and improve its supply chain.

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Fashion retailer Anchor Blue was looking for a way to increase supply chain visibility, reduce costs, and shorten the time required to get products onto store shelves. The company implemented the Inovis AS2 software solution to consolidate data from multiple partners into a single view. Learn how the new electronic data interchange (EDI) system helped reduce transaction costs and get merchandise into stores faster.

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Oxford University Press (OUP), the largest university press in the world, publishes over 4,500 books per year. OUP has long used electronic data interchange (EDI) for inbound orders, invoices, and credit and delivery notes. Learn why incorporating a value-added network (VAN) to its existing EDI software helped OUP improve its warehouse efficiency, boost trading partner adoption, and reduce annual VAN costs by 60 percent.

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Mission Rubber’s customers—the manufacturer’s representatives and distributors it sells through—began insisting on the use of electronic data interchange (EDI) for all transactions. The company wanted a reliable supplier that could provide cost-effective EDI translation and document exchange functionality. Find out why Mission Rubber finds its EDI solution is simple to set up, manage, and use—and how the company benefits.

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imgHeaderSep


For many suppliers, keeping up with their retail customers’ compliance guides is a challenge, driven by the fast pace of the retail supply chain and complex trading partner systems. But even when retailers and vendors work together, data errors can slow down the supply chain and trigger deductions for compliance errors. Discover a solution that can help you eliminate preventable chargebacks in your supply chain.

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As EXEX Jewelry began to grow, the company’s founder realized her existing system of tracking transactions couldn’t keep pace. And increasingly, large retailers demanded that all transactions be completed via electronic data interchange (EDI) and that product information be uploaded to a centralized, third-party repository. Find out how EXEX has improved efficiency and increased product data accuracy with an EDI solution.

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Getting products to customers through a complex, global supply chain is becoming increasingly difficult. If you don’t have a solution that helps you focus on your core business, your business community processes suffer—slowing down supply chains and adding costs upstream and downstream. Find out about a managed services solution that can help you manage your partner relationships and improve cycle times.

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Milwaukee Electric Tool, in business for 85 years, was using an electronic data interchange (EDI) solution that had been outsourced at very high cost. When the company chose a new EDI solution, the focus of the conversion was on reducing costs while improving accuracy and increasing trading partner adoption. Learn more about how the company put EDI order processing back in-house and reduced cost per order by 86 percent.

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For over 40 years, Textron Fastening Systems Australia has provided automotive and aerospace customers with specialized fastening and assembly solutions. Using PRONTO-Xi, Textron has optimized its warehouse operations by automating put-away, picking, transfer orders, and stock takes. Find out how the solution also helped Textron reengineer processes to enhance productivity and improve order accuracy to 99.8 percent.

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Funtastic, the largest toy distributor in Australia, attributes its success to strong retail relationships and understanding the infrastructure needed to service these customers. High customer expectations, a large product range, and the fast-moving nature of the business mean that Funtastic must have complete real-time stock visibility. Find out about the warehouse and order management solution Funtastic uses.

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Bollé, a midsized distributor of sunglasses and other products to the Australian and New Zealand markets, sources both locally and from overseas. Inefficiencies resulting from a lack of integration between finance and inventory—and non-existent system security—forced Bollé to review its systems. After implementing PRONTO-Xi, the company achieves better than 99.5 percent order dispatch accuracy. Discover more benefits.

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Hitachi’s Australian division has nearly 1,000 retail stores and 6 warehouses across Australia. As such, the company needs supply chain visibility and accurate information to maintain customer satisfaction. For over 10 years, Hitachi Australia has worked with Pronto Software to ensure that the PRONTO-Xi enterprise resource management (ERP) system meets its business requirements and maximizes productivity. Find out how.

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The Islander Group generates over $18 million (USD) annually through its Web site, mail-order catalog, and warehouse operations. Seamless communication across the manufacture, supply, and distribution of its products is crucial to maintaining productivity, and profitability. But its business systems were no longer reliable or upgradable. Learn about the company’s requirements for a new system, and how PRONTO-Xi met them.

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At Nagoya Guidance and Propulsion Systems (NGPS), more than half of production time goes into to products such as aircraft guidance systems. In 2003, NGPS installed Asprova’s advanced planning and scheduling system for greater efficiency from the planning it had been doing manually until that time. In 2007, NGPS added the sales module for more uniform production planning. Learn more about the efficiencies NGPS gained.

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