Pelion Systems Sponsors Aberdeen Group's
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Pelion to host webinar on intelligent global manufacturing information frameworks
BOULDER, Colo. October 17, 2005 - Pelion Systems, the market leader in Manufacturing Process Optimization (MPO) solutions, today announced it has sponsored the "Winning with Global Manufacturing Networks" Benchmark Report by Aberdeen Group (http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410186&cid=2087). Pelion's sponsorship supports the company's mission to help customers build demand-driven, synchronized operations that improve manufacturers' production and supply chain processes and drives business performance.
Aberdeen's report outlines how globalization is revolutionizing the way manufacturers operate and the opportunity for manufacturers to lower costs, improve customer responsiveness and enter new markets. Pelion Systems will host a complimentary webinar outlining the findings featuring Jane Biddle, vice president, manufacturing research, Aberdeen Group, and Rich Sherman, senior vice president, marketing, Pelion Systems, on Wed. Nov. 9 at 1:00 p.m. EST. To register, visit www.pelionsystems.com/news/webinars.html.
Biddle leads the manufacturing research efforts for Aberdeen clients. Biddle's career in manufacturing began in the eighties as a consultant implementing and supporting MRP systems for Hewlett Packard; then subsequently as the MRP/ERP product and process industries CIM solution manager for Digital Equipment. In the mid-nineties, she established the Benchmarking Partners' manufacturing advisory services, and was later recruited by SAP to build the U.S. Industry Centers of Expertise (ICOEs) and Global Solution Maps. Biddle received her MBA and BS in Computer Science degrees from Rivier College in Nashua, New Hampshire. She is certified by APICS (CPIM) is currently serving as the president of the West Jersey chapter.
"Globalization is revolutionizing the way manufacturers operate," said Aberdeen's Biddle. "Forward-thinking enterprises see this as an opportunity to seek new lower-cost manufacturing capabilities, improve customer responsiveness, and enter new markets. Over time, their enterprise business models will evolve into ecosystem operating models that also manage extended supply chain business processes. Successful operating models will be supported by intelligent global manufacturing information frameworks."
Sherman is a recognized writer, researcher and speaker on supply chain management and technology. He serves as senior vice president, marketing for Pelion Systems. While at AMR Research, Sherman was on the team that developed the SCOR model and founded the Supply Chain Council. Currently, he serves on its North American Leadership Team. Throughout his career, Sherman has held senior management positions with thought leading technology and consulting firms. He is a member of the CSCMP, sits on several university supply chain executive advisory boards, and has participated as a committee member in several major industry initiatives, such as SCOR, ECR, and CPFR among others. Sherman received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Notre Dame.
"We're pleased to be a sponsor of this important study," said Pelion's Sherman. "Synchronizing operating schedules across global networks reduces the impact of the 'bullwhip' effect. Pelion Systems provides the unified information frameworks which orchestrate value adding processes across global manufacturing networks. We are the first technology provider to provide a collaborative operations management solution based on lean flow principles to enable demand driven supply networks."
Biddle, the author of the report, found that key priorities across the manufacturing sectors include outsourcing to reduce costs and implementing programs that improve customer responsiveness. The results also concluded best-in-class enterprises are optimizing performance through structured outsourcing programs, continuous improvement initiatives and shared customer-focused metrics. These metrics allow best-in-class enterprises to remain focused on performance as they transition from directing operations based on vertically integrated operations to managing relationships across a network of suppliers, outsourced service and manufacturing providers, and customers.
Based on the results of Aberdeen's extensive recent research survey, the report also explains that enterprises fall into one of the three following levels of practices and performance. The report defines this classification system as the Competitive Framework:
Laggards (30 percent) practices that are significantly behind the average of the industry
Industry norm (50 percent) practices that represent the average or norm
Best in class (20 percent) practices that are the best currently being employed and significantly superior to the industry norm
One implication of the report's findings is that best-in-class enterprises are tightly managing business performance even as they transition to new ecosystem operating models. According to the report, these emerging models will leverage existing systems and intelligent workflow into unified information frameworks that orchestrate "value adding" processes across global manufacturing networks. Biddle's findings also suggest better performing enterprises will deliver bottom-line results to their shareholders and partners through structured outsourcing and customer-focused continuous improvement initiatives.
The study's findings indicate that best-in-class enterprises recognize the importance of continuously monitoring and proactively responding to demand. Eighty-six percent of growing companies (all the companies deemed to be best-in-class in the study's survey are also growing) attribute at least part of their success to their ability to accurately and frequently schedule on behalf of ecosystem partners. Inversely, of companies experiencing declining business, not one reported having accurate scheduling capabilities.
Accurate scheduling requires a thorough understanding of resources and constraints across the network supported by the ability and availability of participating partners to execute as required. As specific opportunities arise, manufacturers should be able to evaluate each opportunity relative to other business along with already-scheduled production commitments; for instance, "If we accept this order, what other orders will be negatively impacted?" Or, "If we need to break down and set-up a special process, what will the total cost of this order be to the company? Is it still profitable?" Only those manufacturers that can generate realistic schedules will maintain favorable customer service ratings. Inversely, companies that developed accurate network-wide scheduling competency were able to not only satisfy existing customers, but were better positioned and more confident about pursuing new business opportunities on behalf of its ecosystem partners.
"Pelion Systems' approach to this market is rather unique," added Aberdeen's Biddle. "Pelion's pull/model-based manufacturing solution unifies multiple production facilities and outsourced partners into one networked manufacturing planning, scheduling and execution foundation to enable supply chain synchronization. With Pelion MPO, a company can synchronize operations globally, while optimizing unique execution requirements locally."
Pelion MPO is an enterprise application suite designed to enable manufacturers to achieve demand-driven, synchronized supply chain operations that dramatically improve performance. Pelion MPO synchronizes operations and schedules within a production facility to create a "Virtual Factory" that extends schedule synchronization across the supply network to implement demand-driven manufacturing and distribution strategies based on a unique combination of Lean, Six Sigma and Flow Manufacturing principles, algorithms and techniques. The software suite helps manufacturers visualize, define, design, implement and sustain manufacturing operations best practices with powerful analytics, scheduling algorithms and decision support.
A complimentary copy of the benchmarking study can be downloaded at http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410186&cid=2087.
About Aberdeen Group
Founded in 1988, Aberdeen Group is the trusted advisor to the global business executive for value chain strategies and business advice.
About Pelion Systems
Pelion Systems is the market leader in Manufacturing Process Optimization (MPO) software products and services based on Lean, Six Sigma, and Flow Manufacturing principles. Pelion Systems is the first technology provider to develop applications that apply lean principles across the supply network to enable actionable visibility, meaningful collaboration and synchronize production and distribution schedules in response to demand. With Pelion, leading manufacturers are able to liberate capital, grow profits and sustain breakthrough performance by optimizing and synchronizing operations while extending support to their supply network including suppliers, customers and outsourced service providers in their business operations. Pelion MPO integrates easily with existing ERP, MRP and APS systems and is able to scale from a single facility to an enterprise implementation. Based in Boulder, Colo., Pelion has sales and marketing offices in Chicago, Detroit and Austin. For more information about Pelion's product and service offerings visit www.pelionsystems.com or call 877-669-4324.
Press and Analyst Contact:
Rich Sherman
Pelion Systems
Direct: 512-294-6558
richard.sherman@pelionsystems.com
