Skills enhancement: Supply chain, operations groups partner

Supply Chain Council (SCC) and APICS The Association for Operations Management agreed to offer additional benefits to members of each organization.

Supply chain: Consolidated credit information on companies in China

Compare financial health of up to 20 companies in China as a result of a Panjiva and Sinosure agreement to deliver information on millions of Chinese manufacturers.

Economy: Several indicators suggest growing manufacturer optimism

Several independent sources give some positive news for manufacturers. NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for future North American conditions jumped 15.6 points to 52 from February to March, first above the 50 point growth threshold since August 2007. Prime Advantage survey says 87% of industrial manfucturing companies plan new product introductions in 2009; and Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) survey of 700 manufacturers say 21% of manufacturers are reporting their equipment budgets have increased, 25% have seen no change and 18% report only a slight decrease. “We’re not going to get out of this economic crisis without a strong, innovative manufacturing sector,” SME says. Also see, from MBT, Next imperative: Economy drives manufacturers to go lean; outsource more non-core functions ." More details about each follow along with tips and tools for doing your job better in current economic conditions. Product innovation continues, Prime Advantage says Comparison of external concerns facing midsized manufacturers Source: Prime Advantage via MBT.

Report from Hannover: Seeking an attendance bump at Hannover Fair

On location at Hannover Fair Control Engineering editorial director David Greenfield, Consulting-Specifying Engineer editor Michael Ivanovich, and Plant Engineering editor Bob Vavra will be reporting from Hannover Messe this week on the new ideas and new technologies from the 2009 event. Hannover, Germany — Day 2 at the 2009 Hannover Fair could be a pivotal one for this year’s event. Day 1 attendance, while impressive by just about any other standard in the U.S., was down noticeably from last year. That show preceded the sharp drop in the economy which has fueled so much concern at this year’s event.

State your case: Report finds manufacturing, logistics key to economic growth

Despite heavy job losses in the last year, the nation's manufacturing and logistics industries—considered cornerstones of the U.S. economy—continue to provide a key source of growth, says a report from Ball State University. In the 2009 Manufacturing and Logistics Report Card , Ball State researchers grade each state in seven functional areas with industry-specific information: human capital, benefits cost, global reach, productivity and innovation, and tax climate.The top states are Utah, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas and Alabama; at the bottom are Alaska, Maine, New York, West Virginia, and Rhode Island."This report represents a snapshot of the health of manufacturing and logistics today, but it also offers a road map to state policymakers who are unhappy with the growth of these industries in their states," says Michael Hicks, director of Ball State's Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER).

Help on the way: NAM skills certification system to help new and transitioning workers prepare for good jobs

The National Association of Manufacturers is endorsing a revolutionary new approach to certification and credentials that will "help workers succeed in high-quality, middle class jobs."

MÖBIUS plus SCC: Partnership for multi-echelon inventory solution will benefit from European SCM expertise

Supply Chain Consultants , supplier of the Zemeter suite of supply chain management (SCM) software products, announces a partnership with MÖBIUS for joint design of a sophisticated multi-echelon inventory software solution. The two companies intend to combine the in-depth supply chain knowledge of MÖBIUS with the product development and marketing expertise of Supply Chain Consultants (SCC) to sell the new product in both North America and Europe.Target users for the joint product include any companies with a make-to-stock environment that have different inventory locations to manage—aiming for either customer service improvements or a reduction in working capital. A multi-echelon inventory solution also helps companies deliver more customized and up-to-date products to widely dispersed warehouse and distribution facilities, whether throughout the country or on the other side of the globe.MÖBIUS has seen success with 20 percent to 30 percent extra working capital savings in companies that have implemented its multi-echelon inventory concept.

World-class in high-tech: Digital River enhances global e-commerce platform

A new regulatory fee management tool enable consumer electronics companies to meet complicated recycling and copyright regulations when selling online.

Double-play project: Rawlings to hit batting cages early using AtTask PPM solutions

Rawlings, a name synonymous with baseball since 1877, has chosen AtTask project and portfolio management (PPM) solutions to establish transparency, reduce costs, and drive new product introduction.

Green supply: PowerGenix sets up SigmaQuest quality management platform for battery manufacturing processes

The green battery industry’s acceptable failure rates are said to be some of the most stringent of any industry. To that end, SigmaQuest’s suite of on-demand solutions will enable real-time insight to PowerGenix’ manufacturing operations.

Inventory management: TradeBeam shores up working-capital savings for med device makers

The medical equipment industry is under pressure to lower costs and control working capital more effectively. Since businesses and their suppliers must constantly adapt to ever-changing demand, it is critical that their technology infrastructure is highly flexible and can be quickly adapted to meet these challenges.SaaS-based global trade management specialist TradeBeam says its collaborative i-Supply inventory management system enables medical device manufacturers to optimize inventory levels across multiple tiers of the supply chain. This integration leads to working capital savings, and ultimately helps manufacturers gain as much as a 110-percent ROI in one year through reduced inventory and improved customer and supplier performance.i-Supply allows businesses to integrate multiple inventory management models into a single system and manage replenishment of raw material, components and distribution centers accordingly.

Smart structures: Emerson plant studies support use of wireless in capital projects

Emerson Process Management has unveiled quantified results and other findings of two independent real-world greenfield projects that recommend wireless infrastructure be a key component of all new projects.

Marketing matters: Tracking & reporting tools let small businesses dig deep into data

In this economy, there’s not a company out there with marketing dollars to spare—particularly when it comes to small business. But cutting marketing hinders growth, and even leads to loss in market share or revenue. VerticalResponse says its solutions let small businesses proceed with marketing in the smartest, most precise, most cost-effective way possible while removing the guesswork.

Right people, right now: Fieldglass platform tackles daunting task of managing contingent labor

Fieldglass software helps companies acquire and manage contingent labor and service providers. That's both a tall order and an essential effort required to stay afloat in this struggling economy. Fieldglass says right now it is expanding internally while widening its international customer footprint.

Placement now: Cornerstone fills staff positions for stronger SC infrastructure, project teams

Cornerstone Solutions , an independent supply chain management consulting firm, announces a new service offering for companies needing assistance with staffing new positions.Cornerstone’s resource placement services are designed to save companies money by filling positions correctly, the first time around. Loss of productivity, personnel management costs, and the possibility of reassigning or firing the employee—and the risks involved—are just a few of the high costs of not putting the right person in the right position.The company’s new service offerings include project team candidate assessments & position benchmarking, personnel identification & hiring support, supply chain operations & IT staffing methodology, and implementation team organization.For more information on how Cornerstone’s Resource Placement Services can help you, visit.

A bullish 2009: Seven ways to bring your company out of recession mode; start thriving again

Are your weary of trying to exist in recession-inspired survival mode? You’re not alone. Consultant Gayle Lantz, author of the new book, Take the Bull by the Horns, says it’s time for leaders to find inspiration and take action to move their businesses forward.

Retirement plan: Gerber Scientific shores up aftermarket service, addresses staff issues using Axeda software platform

Gerber Scientific will use Axeda ServiceLink to drive its next-generation service delivery model. Gerber Technology , a business unit of Gerber Scientific, will be the first to offer the GERBERconnect remote service solution, initially rolling out the offering to customers of their GERBERcutter XLc7000 and Z7 automated cutting machines.With Axeda ServiceLink, Gerber Scientific is taking control of three primary pieces of the aftermarket service puzzle: increasing customer satisfaction through proactive support, optimizing spare parts inventory across global distribution centers, and preparing the succession of a highly skilled workforce approaching retirement age."Our field service team supports a very large and globally dispersed customer base," says Mark Hessinger, executive director worldwide customer service for Gerber Scientific. "The Axeda solution allows us to extend the reach and expertise of our technicians to manufacturing facilities in more than 120 countries, for faster and more accurate resolution to product issues.

In a slump? Manufacturers’ practice report shows not all are hitting the panic button

It’s easy to assume that when the economy is in a recession, businesses will make major cutbacks to survive. But according to the American Society for Quality’s latest Quarterly Quality Report, many manufacturing companies are not in the crisis mode one would expect.

Quality commotion: Many kids are saying no to a career in engineering

An American Society for Quality survey among youth ages 8-17—as well as among parents—aimed to provide a better understanding about the perceptions of selecting an engineering career in light of a troubling shortage, which will reach 70,000 by 2010 based on an estimate by the National Science Foundation.

Configure this: MicroMain teams for Facilligence for Web-based maintenance management

Asset and facility management software provider MicroMain is partnering with enterprise asset management (EAM) specialist Facilligence LLC to deliver highly configurable maintenance management software to customers requiring Web-based systems with no client footprint.This software also meets the needs of organizations that require integration with building automation systems, accounting systems, and other business systems.MicroMain software also will be provided by Facilligence for customers who require capital planning, drawing-enabled space planning, and extensive mobile options.“Facilligence software is highly configurable, as is MicroMain software,” says Pat Conroy, President of MicroMain. “For example, security options in Facilligence—which were developed for government and corrections industries—can be set at a very granular level regarding rights and roles. With MicroMain, organizations can utilize specific functionality for different maintenance needs—such as wireless work orders, parts inventory using handhelds, and asset tracking with mobile PCs.”.

Chemical connection: Honeywell technology to be used to design, upgrade key Casale Group global facilities

Honeywell just won a contract to supply process simulation solutions to Casale Group, a Lugano, Switzerland-based specialist in the design and refurbishment of chemical facilities. Casale will deploy the UniSim Design Suite across its process engineering teams.

“Nauseating detail”: Credit index shows widespread carnage in manufacturing, service sectors

While both the services and manufacturing indexes fell to record lows to finish out 2008, and all 20 of the collective components fell below 50 as indicated by the index,  2009 may offer signs of hope for the business landscape.

Real recognition: Expert lists “Top 10” ways to keep auto workers productive

Roy Saunderson, president of Recognition Management Institute, a worldwide consulting firm focused on helping companies motivate their workforces to increase productivity thus profits, has prepared a “Top 10” for how HR professionals, department managers, frontline supervisors, and C-level execs can keep autoworkers focused on the job during the bailout/bankruptcy uncertainty.

Talent pool: IBM launches workforce management offering

IBM says a new workforce management offering combines human resources software, consulting services, and IT integration.The IBM Workforce and Talent Suite includes workforce analytics, e-recruitment, performance management, workforce deployment and scheduling, an employee portal, collaboration, and social networking. It also provides consulting services including change management, process redesign, technology integration, program management, and business performance measurement.The talent management software comes from Saba and SuccessFactors to enable organizations to access key employee data and manage workforces as a globally integrated talent pool.Says Larry Bowden, VP of IBM's portals and mashups division, "The latest advances in collaborative human capital software such as Lotus Connections, WebSphere Portal, and Cognos 8 Workforce Performance can deliver a talent management system that companies could only imagine a few short years ago.".

Network advantage: Ariba and The Receivables Exchange to help suppliers battle financing crunch

“It’s estimated that more than half of all companies with under $1 billion in revenues depend on secured and unsecured lines of credit to feed their short-term cash needs. Unfortunately, in today’s economy, this is exactly the type of credit that is becoming less and less available,” says Bob Solomon, a senior VP and general manager for Ariba . By joining forces with The Receivables Exchange , Solomon says Ariba now can provide suppliers with an alternative source of funding that enables them to maintain the strength and competitiveness of their operation in both the short and long term. Under terms of a newly signed agreement, the companies will provide suppliers with access to competitively priced capital through a receivables auctioning solution accessed via the Ariba Supplier Network. Changing the landscape of business financing, The Receivables Exchange connects suppliers (member sellers) to a global network of accredited investors (receivables buyers) who compete in a real-time auction marketplace to buy their receivables.

Multinational assistance: Sterling Commerce expands global alliance with Infosys

In today’s volatile economy, manufacturers need partners who can solve a variety of problems. Further, multinational companies must gain greater information technology (IT) efficiencies. It all requires collaboration across business communities, processes, and people. An expanded alliance seeks to deliver the right capabilities and blend of technology and process expertise to the manufacturing industry, among others.

Market this: Sales configuration, quoting, and proposal solution pumps up e-powered products maker

ePrize, a worldwide leader in interactive promotions, is using the BigMachines data-hosting services platform to simplify quoting processes.

Forward thinking: Player Group alliance seeks to maximize ROI via integrated planning

Dallas-based consulting firm The Player Group LLC , which manages and operates the North America region for the Beyond Budgeting Round Table , an international shared learning network, will offer Enterprise Optimizer (EO), a planning and modeling software platform developed by River Logic , to improve client company performance through enhanced insight and understanding. Specifically, Player Group will use EO to holistically model a client’s enterprise, and connect planning across all functional silos, and simultaneously conduct constraint-based modeling, activity-based costing, and full financial modeling in a single representation. The holistic approach to planning identifies the plans and decisions that will deliver the greatest financial impact to the client’s organization. Says Steve Player, founder and managing director of The Player Group, “Enterprise Optimizer is literally changing the way business leaders see their operations and make decisions. By combining constraint-based modeling and activity-based costing with full financial modeling, organizations have the ability to integrate forward-looking approaches.”.

Trading recipes: WBF combines standards for transporting production data

The Forum for Automation and Manufacturing Professionals—widely known as WBF—has combined two languages for transporting production-related data into a single standard that should prove useful to all companies in process industries.

Inquiring minds: Does sustainability have an effect on your job role?

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) offers its Sustainability Survey report for the answer.

The smart solution: Emerson wireless instruments quash equipment failures at chemical plant

Smart Wireless instruments from Emerson Process Management—mounted on a rotating reactor at Coogee Chemical Co., an Australian processer—are credited with delivering reliable pressure and temperature measurements to prevent frequent reactor breakdowns and lost production time.

Ariba teams with Kelly Services for temporary labor procurement

With the prices of core commodities largely out of their control, companies are on the hunt for opportunities to drive savings in other areas to maintain their cost structures and competitive advantage. And one category in which they are finding them is temporary labor.To help companies quickly convert these opportunities to hard-dollar savings, spend management solutions supplier Ariba reports the launch of a new, network-based offering that will enable companies of all sizes to quickly and easily procure temporary talent across categories leveraging a pre-enabled catalog sponsored by Kelly Services , a world leader in human resources solutions."A highly challenging economic environment with increasingly volatile labor markets demands that hiring managers look to temporary labor as a means to stay competitive and flexible,” says Andrew Bartolini, VP of global supply chain management for Boston-based Aberdeen Group. “Companies with the right tools and processes in place to optimize the management of their temporary labor spend will be best positioned to drive productivity and impact the bottom line.”Delivered as part of Ariba Services Procurement via the Ariba Network, the pre-enabled, temporary labor channel offers flexible and granular visibility into spend, as well as fast access to services across a wide range of temporary labor sub-categories: accounting/finance, contact center, creative services, education, electronic assembly, engineering, health care, IT, legal, light industrial, marketing, office, professional, and scientific.“Good people are hard to find, but through the power of the Ariba Network, companies can quickly access the talent they need to support their business globally and deliver results,” says Rick Collison, an Ariba director for procurement and content.

AC systems leader links Servigistics with SAP for inventory accuracy

Daikin Europe NV , a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd .—a global provider of air conditioning systems for residential, commercial, and industrial use worldwide—is using the Servigistics Service Parts Management solution to optimize service parts inventory across a multi-echelon network in Europe, which consists of 45,000 part numbers.“We needed a solution that would easily integrate to our SAP ERP system already deployed, and one that would enable us to establish a distributed network model and achieve global visibility and control over our parts,” says Pieter Decloedt, European service manager. “We selected Servigistics for its ability to support our long-term vision for strategic service management.”.

Trying times: Five reasons to embrace new product blueprinting

Industrial marketing specialist Dan Adams says the only way to win in tough times is through organic growth. Companies must consistently come up with differentiated new products customers want to buy—and that means finding clarity in the "fuzzy front end" of the process.

Human capital: Mercer issues compensation module for manufacturing industry

Mercer , a global provider of consulting, outsourcing, and investment services for helping clients solve complex benefit and human capital issues, has released its Manufacturing module of the 2008 US Mercer Benchmark Database , which provides an overview of pay levels, trends, and practices for jobs in the manufacturing industry.The Manufacturing module includes responses from more than 730 organizations reporting on compensation for more than 80,390 employees in 202 positions. The positions range from top-level executives to assemblers and technicians.According to the findings, 2008 median total cash compensation (base pay plus short-term incentives) for top corporate manufacturing executive is $256,000. The median total cash compensation for some of the other highly populated positions in the module is as follows:• Engineering Manager: $114,500• Plant Manager (single facility): $138,000• Production Manager: $80,700• Maintenance Supervisor: $66,600• Senior Machine Operator: $39,800The US Mercer Benchmark Database consists of 13 modules with positions in 16 functional areas, including administration, communication, corporate affairs, customer service, engineering, knowledge management, finance, human resources, information technology, manufacturing, marketing, quality, research and development, sales, supply and logistics, and top management.

Green fields: Key associations honor remote-service specialist Axeda

Axeda recently was named Recognized Innovator finalist by the Association for Services Management International ( AFSMI ) and the Service & Support Professionals Association ( SSPA ). Honored for “Innovation in Eliminating Onsite Visits” in the annual award program, Axeda enables service and support teams to identify, diagnose, and repair product performance issues remotely—reducing the need to roll trucks, and translating into less CO2 emissions and significant cost savings."This year, SSPA and AFSMI Research focused on a topic that’s becoming common boardroom conversation today: how companies can shrink their corporate carbon footprint through "green" initiatives,” says John Ragsdale, VP of technology research for SSPA. “While the primary focus of most corporate green projects has been reducing electric consumption, these awards center on processes and technologies specific to support—including virtual support operations, reductions in field service visits, and field service schedule optimization.

Instant snapshot: Inventory “rightsizing” program softens impact of the credit crunch

Inventory management specialist ToolsGroup says it has an innovative new program to help companies quickly “rightsize” their inventories, free up millions of dollars of cash, and improve free cash flow—or FCF. The new program, called Rapid Inventory Rightsizing (RIR), seeks to reduce a company’s working capital needs.In this era of tight credit and higher cost of capital, cash is king. According to the U.S.

New Answerthink alliance benefits SAP user base

Answerthink , a division of Atlanta-based Hackett Group and a gold-level SAP channel partner specializing in the sale, implementation and support of SAP solutions, is partnering with software components developer Synactive in support of SAP applications.Synactive implements products that meet the practical needs of users of SAP solutions, including GuiXT Mobile Suite, GuiXT Offline Suite, GuiXT Portal Suite, and GuiXT Developer Suite, which can be deployed without modification to core applications.“Our alliance with Answerthink underlines our efforts to address core challenges on usability and provide customers with an in-depth understanding of their strategic challenges and knowledge of SAP best practices,” says Thomas Ewe, CEO, Synactive.Answerthink solutions and services help clients significantly improve performance and maximize returns on technology investments.“Synactive products enable our customers to transform advanced, multi-screen SAP processes and transactions into single-screen views, increasing both ease of use and data entry speed,” says John McGrath, managing director, Answerthink. “As powerful as SAP applications are, Answerthink knows that software alone is not enough to transform businesses into world-class performers. We help our clients generate exceptional value from their investments in SAP applications through our unparalleled knowledge of best practices and our alliances with companies such as Synactive.”.

Vicious circle: Apologizing does NOT get to the root cause

If your customer service staff is accustomed to solving the immediate problem, offering an apology or some compensation, and then assuming all is well, you’re just putting the fire out without looking for a root cause—or prevention. That means the same problem will occur again. Many organizations seem to respond to each problem—overreact even— as if it's a "special cause," when the problem is really a "common cause" that's a result of some underlying process or system.Sort it all out now in Mark Graban’s Get Lean and Prosper blog on the MBT Web site.

Kyocera Wireless puts in Oracle demand management

Technology consultancy BearingPoint reports deployment of Oracle Demantra Demand Management to improve the strategic planning and forecasting functions at San Diego-based Kyocera Wireless . Demantra is set to replace Kyocera’s manual process for planning and forecasting, improve accuracy, maintain a better audit trail, generate consistent enterprisewide reports and spreadsheets, and create one source of data for forecasting and planning.Demantra’s automated analytics can quickly generate accurate forecasts and turn them into consensus plans without the need of advanced statistical expertise."In less than four months, BearingPoint helped us replace our manual, spreadsheet-forecasting processes with a state-of-the-art planning process," says Todd Huffine, senior director of IT for Kyocera. "The integrated process now provides better communication of forecast information and faster development and modification of sales and operating plans."As part of the engagement, BearingPoint also worked with Kyocera to put in place a streamlined user interface, online forecast measurement tools, and automated change tracking capabilities.

Suite release: Labor management goes paperless

Labor management solutions supplier CIMx offers Interax v6.2, a paperless manufacturing software upgrade. New features include Multiple Piece Data Collection (MPDC) and automated Labor Tracking.MPDC allows users to replace error-prone paper check sheets with an electronic table automatically created by the software, while Automated Labor Tracking eliminates the need for users to manually record labor time.Beginning with Interax v6.2, all product releases will be available through Web site download. By allowing customers to receive all materials via the Internet, CIMx actively participates in the global need to conserve resources as much as possible."This is an exciting time for CIMx,” says CIMx President Kristin McLane.

Bright solution: Lithonia Lighting turns on Datalliance SaaS-based VMI

Datalliance, provider of vendor managed inventory (VMI) and other e-commerce services, says Lithonia Lighting , an Acuity Brands lighting business, will use Datalliance VMI as a service. Lithonia will initiate its VMI program implementation with a pilot distributor site and then will roll out VMI to a select base of distributors.Lithonia Lighting identified VMI as strategic technology to enhance an electronic partnership with key distributors.“VMI will give us better visibility of actual product sales for each distributor,” says Amra Boucher, manager, E-Business Services, Lithonia Lighting. “This detailed sales information will help us evaluate and fine-tune our product offering to determine the most profitable mix of products for individual distributors.

Rigorous rollout: BASF sites worldwide to deploy PAS alarm management software

PAS , a provider of alarm management software and consulting services for the process industries, says BASF has selected its alarm management software for its enterprisewide alarm management initiative. The agreement enables BASF to deploy PAS’ PlantState Suite (PSS) software throughout BASF operating facilities worldwide.PAS offers a comprehensive real-time alarm management software suite with capabilities for alarm & event data collection and analysis, performance metrics manager, documentation and rationalization, state-based alarm handling, flood suppression, alarm shelving, and alarm systems auditing.“BASF conducted a rigorous evaluation of available alarm management technologies and selected PAS as its partner because PAS offers currently the most valuable solution for BASF,” says Simon Kronemeier, Automation Technology, BASF Ludwigshafen, Germany. “As a corporate initiative, we plan to use PAS software to monitor and improve alarms within each of our operating plants.”.

12 new features: Infor enhances HCM Workforce Management package

Key among the new features is a new Payroll Wizard that automates the payroll process to reduce the number of retro adjustments following each pay cycle, including off-cycle exports for retroactive adjustments and terminated employees.

Skills saavy: FLEX timesheets set up real-time data exchange

 SoftSolutions says its FLEX workforce management software is gaining traction in the manufacturing sector based on innovative metrics and decision-support tools to best leverage skilled labor markets.

Manual mistake: New survey proves the need for automated time & attendance

A new survey by workforce management solutions specialist CyberShift and the American Payroll Association (APA) on employee time-entry management finds continued usage of relatively antiquated methods of recording time—e.g., manually recording employee hours on paper-based forms or Excel spreadsheets—a practice that results in plenty of errors.

Double win: Atos teams with Apriso for Manufacturing Operations Management excellence

A new alliance allows IT services supplier Atos Origin to implement Apriso FlexNet Operations Execution System (OES) to enable real-time visibility and control over global operations.Apriso FlexNet synchronizes plant-level operations with warehouse, maintenance, and quality processes to effectively fill the gap between ERP and automation equipment systems.Benefits include:• Enhanced agility across global manufacturing operations;• Accelerated integration between plant-floor automation systems, manufacturing operations, and business planning applications; and• Expanded throughput by seamlessly coordinating internal and external production, warehouse, quality, maintenance and other operations processes.The partnership is actively engaged with one of the world’s largest truck manufacturers. Atos Origin will work with Apriso to design a set of best-practice business processes for integrating manufacturing operations across existing plant automation systems.“We are pleased to offer the Apriso OES solution as an alternative to traditional [manufacturing execution systems] for those clients seeking a wider scope of operations performance improvement,” says Gene Wells, VP of consulting and systems integration, Atos Origin North America. “Working with Apriso allows us to establish highly collaborative operations environments while enabling the acceleration of our client’s ERP deployments—a double win for our customers.”.

Phase one: CDC Factory sets up $1M production costs savings for Pinnacle Foods

Mountain Lakes, N.J.-based Pinnacle Foods Group will use CDC Factory global manufacturing operations management (MOM) solution, offered by CDC Software , at three of Pinnacle’s largest plants in the U.S. during Phase One of the project, with an additional four plants during Phase Two.Pinnacle plans to save $1 million in annual production costs after Phase One, and a total of $4 million annually after completion of Phase Two.Based on a benchmark study conducted by CDC Factory consultants and the Pinnacle Foods project team, CDC Factory is expected to provide significant productivity improvements.Pinnacle, with net sales of $1.54 billion, makes some of the most venerable brands in the U.S., including Duncan Hines baking mixes, Hungry-Man and Swanson Dinners, Mrs. Paul’s frozen foods, Vlasic pickles, and Mrs.

Lean conservation: Energy consulting practice offers shop-floor techniques

Wasted energy often results from improper machine conditions, lack of standard work, excessive inventories, and unnecessary processing. TBM Consulting Group , a global business improvement leader for the manufacturing and service sectors, says its new Lean Energy Practice now assists companies worldwide in applying Lean principles to reduce energy consumption and waste.“The manufacturing community urgently needs to exert control over rising energy costs,” says Anand Sharma, CEO, TBM Consulting Group. “To improve financial performance particularly during turbulent times, it’s crucial for manufacturers to conserve their energy resources.”Through TBM’s Lean Energy Process, which enables companies to rapidly achieve energy productivity, key processes lead to conservation of resources such as water, gas, compressed air, oil, and electricity.

SC optimization: Wincanton standardizes pan-European operations on Manhattan Associates

European supply chain services provider Wincanton will standardize its European logistics infrastructure on the Manhattan Associates supply chain solutions platform. The project plan will focus initially on deploying Manhattan's Warehouse Management for Open Systems solution across 15 sites in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the U.K.

Eco-excellence: New international consortium targets environmental impact of materials

Granta Design announces a new collaborative project called the Environmental Materials Information Technology (EMIT) Consortium, coordinated by the U.K.’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The effort will target materials and process decisions that control the environmental impact of engineered products and develop information resources and software to aid members’ response to environmental regulations and to enable design for minimum environmental impact—including low carbon footprint, energy efficiency, reduced wastes and emissions, and avoidance of restricted substances.The three-year project began July 1 with founder members Emerson Electric , Eurocopter , NASA , and Rolls-Royce . It is expected to grow to between 10 and 15 member organizations.

Fast talk: GXS EDI solution connects lighting manufacturer to global partners

Osram Sylvania, one of the two largest lighting manufacturers in the world, is using GXS Trading Grid Messaging Service to manage B2B e-commerce transactions with customers and suppliers on a global basis.

Competitive advantage: Green enterprise maturity model seeks to reduce carbon footprint

Operations consulting firm The Results Group (TRG) has released the first Green Enterprise Maturity Model to help companies increase revenue and lower costs while reducing carbon footprint.TRG’s Green Enterprise Maturity Model enables companies to assess Green maturity relative to their industry, execute business-focused Green initiatives, and create a road map for building a dominant competitive position. The Green Enterprise Maturity Model enables TRG to characterize company readiness and capability to capitalize on new opportunities. The model profiles companies at four levels of maturity—Complier, Dabbler, Consistent Improver and Enterprise Optimizer—across major business dimensions. The model-based road map seeks to drive innovation and performance improvement across all enterprise operations, including supply chain, customer support, and product development.“We see a lasting sea change around sustainability.

Industry standards: ISA releases report on using ISA88 and ISA95 together

A new ISA technical report is targeted for industry stakeholders intending to use the ANSI/ISA95 series for enterprise-to-control system integration and the ANSI/ISA88 series for control system integration within a common project.

Beyond CRM: Cincom releases new quotation and proposal management solution

Worldwide software provider Cincom Systems announcesCincom Acquire is designed for companies that sell complex products and services, and seeks to fill the gaps in traditional CRM- and ERP-based systems such as guided selling, channel and distributor collaboration, sales and product configuration, quotation and proposal management, project and bid management, and contract and order management. TheSpecifically the Cincom Acquire Quotation and Proposal Management solution provides:• A centralized quotation database• Customer and contact information• Knowledge-based document configuration• Automated generation of complex proposals based on document templates• Integration of product and configuration data• Proposal revision control• Knowledge-based workflow automation• Complex costing and pricing• Multi-language/multi-currency support• Automated sales-order generation Cincom Acquire has helped manufacturers selling industrial engineer-to-order or configure-to-order products successfully streamline their sales, design, and proposal processes by delivering critical product and sales knowledge to the point of sale, while significantly reducing “quote to cash” time. Cincom has helped manufacturers reduce proposal generation time from five days to 15 minutes, decrease time to close a sale by 80 percent, and cut lead times from 14 weeks to six weeks.Built on the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server architecture, Cincom Acquire makes use of the Microsoft tools that employees use every day such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Project.Cincom Acquire includes “out-of-the-box” integration with SAP, salesforce.com, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and other systems.

Pulse Survey: Globalization leads to worldwide services supply chain; the challenge lies in effective management

Outsourcing often is viewed as a one-dimensional, point-to-point solution, typically between a U.S. or Western European organization and a company in India. In reality, today’s global sourcing model is akin to an intricate manufacturing supply chain.

Big idea: BigMachines serves up new customer support portal

BigMachines , a specialist in on-demand sales configuration and proposal software, is expanding its Customer Support program to include a new online Support Center, an interactive customer idea forum called “ My BigIdea, ”and online customer collaboration tools.The multi-faceted support program extends customers’ software investments through open online access to customer-shared and industry-leading best-practices, BigMachines product tools and support information, and a collaborative network of BigMachines customers.A key component of this customer-facing initiative is the launch of a new online Support Center, extending BigMachines’ comprehensive customer services to its worldwide user base. BigMachines’ online Support Center provides the company’s global customers with a single point of entry to a repository of support information and tools, as well as an interactive community to share best practices and drive innovation in product design and development.In addition, Web 2.0 community applications have been added, including My BigIdea , an interactive forum where customers can submit their own ideas for product enhancements. Using My BigIdea , other customers can view the suggestions, add their own comments, and vote on the ideas they would like to see implemented.Other feature on tap:• Integrated global CRM platform to manage customer accounts and contacts;• Online Support Center Web portal offering single point of access for customers;• Helpdesk with new Voice Over IP (VOIP) system integrated to a CRM system to ensure that BigMachines support agents have relevant customer information at their fingertips;• Customer knowledge base allowing access to comprehensive solutions database online;• Customer collaboration tools to share ideas within the customer community and directly with BigMachines staff; and• Dashboards and metrics reporting tools to track and monitor helpdesk case load, including causes, volume and frequency of issues; and patterns and trends over time.In addition, BigMachines Customer Success Managers are responsible for proactive communication to customers, sharing best practices, and ensuring that BigMachines customers achieve full adoption and value.According to Mei-lin Cheng, VP Enterprise Services for BigMachines, “With these enhancements, we can continuously monitor customer adoption, enabling us to ensure that customers are getting all the benefits available to them.”.

$5M funding: Carbonetworks closes financing round for greenhouse gas solutions support

Carbonetwork, a pioneer in enterprise greenhouse gas emissions management software and services, reports first close of its $5 million Series A round of financing. The funding was provided by NGEN II, L.P., part of the NGEN Partners group of "cleantech" venture funds.Carbonetworks supports more than 180 organizations in 23 countries to create and manage greenhouse gas emissions strategies in energy, financial, materials, and manufacturing industries, among others. The increased capital will allow Carbonetworks to significantly expand its operations.“We have a particularly aggressive growth plan in a nascent and rapidly growing market," says Michael Meehan, president & CEO, Carbonetworks.

Material world: ToolsGroup sheds light on inventory optimization at OSRAM

ToolsGroup , a global provider of demand-driven inventory optimization solutions, says OSRAM S.p.A. will use ToolsGroup Service Optimizer 99+ solution to optimize the planning processes of raw materials and components managed at its production site in Treviso, Italy.With sales of 4.7 billion euro in 2007, OSRAM is one of the largest lighting manufacturers in the world. Part of the Siemens AG Group , OSRAM has global presence with 41,000 employees in 150 countries, including 48 production and distribution sites in 17 countries.

Optimized model: Metastorm enhances Process Discovery software

Version 6.4 of Metastorm Discovery, an interactive process discovery tool for faster and more accurate collection of data, process understanding, and process metrics, offers enhanced capabilities for wireless data collection, improved reporting capabilities, and tighter integration with Metastorm ProVision for process modeling and optimization.As part of the Metastorm Enterprise platform, Metastorm Discovery interoperates with Metastorm ProVision, an enterprise modeling solution. Organizations can use Metastorm Discovery to quickly engineer a process metric study, provide process participants with a hand-held PDA interface to self-record their activities and related events, generate standard process analysis reports, and then directly use the new data in Metastorm ProVision for advanced modeling and further statistical analysis.It is not uncommon for a group of 20 study participants to generate in excess of 8,000 data points in two weeks, and Metastorm Discovery eliminates the need for scarce, high-cost business analysts or consultants to sit, observe, and time workers and manually aggregate and analyze the collected data. Instead, all of it can be automated and participant-driven through Metastorm Discovery.Other key capability enhancements in Metastorm Discovery 6.4 include:%%POINT%% Support for PDA Bluetooth stack technology for study deployment and process data capture;%%POINT%% Enhanced library of standard “one-click” reports;%%POINT%% Improved performance of data import and export for cleansing and for custom report development in Microsoft Excel; and%%POINT%% Improved integration to Metastorm ProVision’s workflow simulation capability so that real and credible activity information can be used.“Data collection and analysis are critical to the success of business process modeling and improvement initiatives,” says Greg Carter, CTO, Metastorm.“[Companies] are realizing the value of using Metastorm Discovery as a core component of their process initiatives.

Pet project: Mars finds an SPC legacy system successor in InfinityQS software

Pet food products maker Mars Inc. will use InfinityQS ProFicient software from Infinity International in certain North American sites to systematically improve product quality.Mars' intended objective was to leverage a real-time statistical process control (SPC) solution that would provide the necessary tools for executing process improvement initiatives in a flexible and user-friendly format.Mars chose InfinityQS software for greater depth and breadth of functionality than found in Mars' legacy SPC system. Because ProFicient is built on a relational database structure, users can quickly manage thousands of parts in a single setup—or "project"—as opposed to the hundreds and thousands of data files that other systems require users to configure.The database structure allows Mars to conduct comparative analysis of any part running across any process (machine).

Tighter constraints: Leading performers expand on traditional engineering tasks to go “Lean and Green”

In a study of more than 600 discrete and process manufacturers, Boston-based Aberdeen Group names these top three top factors as impacting performance of the engineering organization: Shrinking development schedules; Decreasing product price points, and Rising raw materials costs. Assessing and optimizing product performance under tighter constraints is a tall order, but some manufacturers are balancing them in a way that allows meeting requirements while still achieving cost and time targets on an 88-percent or better average. "The capacity [of Best-in-Class companies] to consistently achieve engineering targets takes on additional meaning in light of multifaceted pressures on these organizations," says Chad Jackson, a director with the Product Innovation Practice of Aberdeen. "Shrinking schedules are cited as the top pressure on engineering organizations, and while the Best-in-Class are hitting their targets at a high pace, Laggards are struggling, meeting 'release to manufacturing' targets only 42 percent of the time, and engineering-related development costs only 57 percent of the time. These companies are no less aware that speed and cost are a problem, but they are still searching for the means to resolve it." Jackson says companies are doing this by pursuing a blend of both traditional and nascent strategies that address the performance of the product and the engineering department itself.

Deeper shade of green: ILOG expands SC network optimization to address new global realities

Supply chain management processes gain in complexity as new economic and social issues that affect the markets take priority. Oil prices, total landed costs—even green environmental concerns—are top of mind for executives now. “Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers traditionally turn to offshore suppliers based largely on inventory costs,” says Ronan O. Donovan, ILOG product manager for the LogicTools line.

Simplifying the complex: Sterling Commerce delivers first global e-invoicing solution

Sterling Commerce says it has the first solution that enables multinational organisations to automate electronic-invoicing processes worldwide while maintaining conformity with individual tax regulations mandated by multiple countries.“The e-invoicing landscape is complex in both regulation and technology requirements. Managing these correctly is key to increasing the comfort levels of CFOs taking on e-invoicing projects,” says Trevor LaFleche, a senior research analyst with Framingham, Mass.-based IDC Financial Insights .Sterling e-Invoice Gateway eliminates the need to support separate solutions for isolated geographies, and reduces risk and exposure by complying with ever-changing electronic invoicing tax regulations. Operational efficiencies are improved by automating both buyer and seller electronic invoice processes in compliance with country-specific tax regulations.“Compliance with e-invoicing legislation is a complex challenge that is beginning to cost global organisations significant time and money,” says Chris Johnson, a Sterling Commerce VP.

Google over Microsoft: Consumers rank Corporate America’s reputation in Harris survey of 60 most visible companies

Not only has the stock market lost ground since last fall, but so has the reputation of Corporate America in the eyes of consumers. Seven out of 11 industries saw their reputation decline last year from 2006, and 16 of the companies with the worst marks fell even further, according to the Harris Interactive Reputation Quotient (RQ) survey. But despite a slide in Corporate America's image among consumers, the RQ found a strong statistical correlation between a company's overall reputation and the likelihood that consumers will purchase, recommend, or invest in a company or its products and services. The RQ surveys thousands of American consumers in a two-step process (online and telephone interviews) to first identify the 60 most visible companies, and subsequently rank these companies based on their reputation in six categories: Emotional Appeal, Products & Services, Social Responsibility, Vision & Leadership, Workplace Environment, and Financial Performance. While the RQ found that certain industry sector reputations—including airlines, consumer products, insurance/financial services, pharmaceutical, and retail—are perceived to have plummeted since 2006, the reputations of the most visible companies remained relatively stable. And while the overall the reputation of American companies continues to decline, a few companies are bucking the trend and building their reputations in this tough environment. The survey also provides a road map for what areas linked to corporate reputation have the most impact on consumers. According to Ken Powell, CEO, General Mills , "Reputation can be measured in recognition, employee recruitment and retention—even stock price multiple.

Planning perfected: JDA Software and Oliver Wight team for next-gen S&OP

JDA Software will incorporate methodology and consulting processes offered by Oliver Wight to increase the overall performance of JDA 's sales & operations planning (S&OP) solutions.Expansion of JDA’s S&OP solution will include an executive workbench to further facilitate the S&OP review and management process.Says Dennis Groves, chairman of Oliver Wight Americas, “Oliver Wight continues to lead the transformation of S&OP from a simple supply-demand balancing exercise to a process that integrates all aspects of a business in delivering a company’s strategic objectives. But implementing a successful S&OP process within an organization requires a triumvirate approach, balancing people, processes and innovative technology. Through this alliance, JDA and Oliver Wight can leverage respective proficiencies to deliver a well-rounded S&OP solution that fills gaps that other vendors do not fully address.”.

People pleasers: Human capital management systems track the ever-changing workforce

Fieldglass , a platform provider for acquiring contingent workers, services, and direct hires, reports new efficiencies in its InSite Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) suite that allow users to realize cost- and time-savings in managing human capital acquisition programs, including: Dynamic organizational structures : A significant new capability in InSite that overcomes one of the largest challenges of implementations: gathering and validating all of the organizational structures from myriad sources; and Enhancements to the InSite upload API : Enhancements result in nearly 20 new utilities, whereby users can add new lines of business, and make mass changes to the system—as in the case of an organizational restructuring. Through InSite Contingent, InSite Services and InSite Recruiter, the suite fully supports processes for acquiring contingent labor, service providers, and employees. Additional solutions track talent pools—such as retirees—that may be candidates for temporary positions; automate the workflow associated with the on- and off-boarding processes; and allow interaction between InSite and other applications via a Web service API.Workforce management specialist NaturalInsight also has new services said to strengthen remote management of people, places, and projects—including work validation and tracking components for better managing large-scale projects in different job locations. Specifically, a “Check-In” utility enables real-time monitoring of workers as they arrive onsite for time-critical projects. Workers dial into a user-friendly telephone system that recognizes their mobile phone number and requests the worker confirm their location.

REACH Roundup: Altrion, SAP and TechniData AG satisfy chemical bureau compliance

During the first several years under REACH—i.e., European Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) legislation—the average chemical company is estimated to handle 15,000 compliance projects, each involving substance registration, usage and management, supply chain, financial, and legal processes. REACH places the burden of proving the safety of chemical substances, products, and consumer use on the manufacturer and importer.Chemical, consumer product, mill, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and other process manufacturers will be denied the right to trade noncompliant substances within the European Union (EU).To help manufacturers succeed with compliance, several vendors now offer solutions for which benefits have been achieved in testing. For instance, SAP and TechniData AG recently launched SAP REACH Compliance, a comprehensive application for addressing complex tasks required by REACH.

Team for talent: SuccessFactors and IBM to deliver people/performance management to global enterprises

A new parternship underscores how performance and talent management market is thriving as global companies are looking for new and better ways to engage and develop their global workforces, aligning them closer to high-level business objectives.

Enterprise 2.0 Social networking site offers advice on how to sell services

MaintenanceNet, Inc. has created an online community for people who make a living marketing and selling aftermarket service agreements. The community, called Selling Services, is billed as a social networking site for individuals seeking to make professional connections and become more proficient at marketing and selling services.

Government policy: Trade group wants R&D tax credit restored

A coalition of trade associations is urging Congress to act quickly in restoring the federal Research & Development (R&D) Tax Credit that was allowed to expire at the end of last year. A group calling itself The R&D Credit Coalition is using an Ernst & Young study on the impact of the tax credit to bolster its argument for its restoration.

Product safety: Manufacturers feel the heat over emerging market sourcing

A new executive survey from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu reveals exactly why safety, product quality, and environmental standards are getting a lot more attention from manufacturing senior management and investors.

Corporate management: i2 Technologies names permanent CEO

i2 Technologies announced its board of directors has named Dr. Pallab K. Chatterjee i2 chief executive officer (CEO). Chatterjee has been the Company's interim CEO since July 31, 2007.

Expert access: Merger unites two organizations devoted to product development

The Product Development and Management Association (PDMA), a resource for the profession of product development and innovation, has merged with the International Association for Product Development (IAPD), granting corporate members access to a significantly expanded network of thousands of experts.

Conference Board findings: Indian firms slowly embrace risk management, but most efforts are defensive, not strategic

Intense global competition and rapid growth are forcing Indian firms to examine corporate enterprise risk management (ERM) elsewhere, especially in Europe, Australia, and North America, where the process is more mature, concludes a report by The Conference Board. ERM is an enterprisewide process allowing companies to identify, assess, and respond to the social, political, and economic risks of doing business.

Opportunity knocks: Long-term opportunities abound in Green IT’s future

Most of the talk about Green IT focuses on the relatively small part that IT—particularly hardware and the data centre—contributes to carbon emissions. But 95 percent of the problem is generated elsewhere. Those software and IT services companies that can offer carbon-reduction solutions across a range of applications and processes will be well-placed to pick up the business.

Allegiance University: Flexible education services teach enterprise feedback management

Enterprise feedback management (EFM) specialist Allegiance is offering a full range of educational services that combine computer-based e-learning, instructor-led training, and on-site courses, including a certification program.

Process safety systems: Operational performance, compliance needs driving market growth

The market for industrial process safety systems is projected to more than double between 2006 and 2013, growing at a rate of 10.8 percent, reaching $2.1 billion, according to Cambridge, Mass.-based Frost & Sullivan.

Tax-time advisory: Business services leaders help midmarket companies boost returns on R&D investments

Because manufacturers perform the bulk of private sector R&D to drive new products and process improvements, taking full advantage of the R&D credit is crucial. The fact is IRS scrutiny of this tax incentive has risen in recent years. As tax time comes to a close, RSM McGladrey and Axiom Solutions are offering tax credit services that some companies can take advantage of now. 

Tips from Dow Corning: How to keep your plants well oiled and running smoothly

A frequently cited study from M.I.T. estimates that approximately $240 billion—6 to 7 percent of the U.S. gross national product—is lost due to downtime, repairs, and damaged equipment caused by poor lubrication. Phil Grellier, Dow Corning global solutions development manager, offers three tips for keeping plants well oiled and running smoothly.

Designs on compliance: Kongsberg Automotive tackles regulations using quality, risk management solutions

Dyadem's FMEA-Pro quality and risk life-cycle management solution will allow Kongsberg Automotive to unify its compliance reporting from development through preparation and production, resulting in an efficient way to meet its rigorous quality standards.

FPC advisory: Manufacturers need to plan now for 76 million boomer retirements 

New York-based FPC (F-O-R-T-U-N-E Personnel Consultants) says manufacturers are ill prepared for the the massive baby boomer retirement wave expected in the next five years. "The mass retirement wouldn't be so bad if there were enough people coming into the workforce," says Ron Herzog, CEO and president, FPC.

DaVinci control: Honeywell to automate quality for Karlsborg paper plant

Honeywell will provide paper manufactuer Billerud with a DaVinci Quality Control System and a range of actuators as part of a project to a paper machine at Billerud's plant in Karlsborg, Sweden.

Regulatory compliance: MES, quality systems excel at pinpointing compliance violations

Adopting manufacturing execution (MES) and quality management systems can give a company a decided advantage when it comes to identifying products or shipments that don’t conform to regulatory requirements. That’s the conclusion drawn from an analysis of more than 650 manufacturing companies conducted by Boston-based Aberdeen Group.

GE Fanuc gets new name; backs new ARC manufacturing model

Dedham, Mass.-based ARC Advisory Group is offering up what it calls “Collaborative Production Systems” (CPS) as a new manufacturing model that views operations management and automation control as a single collaborative space. GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms—which combines the former GE Fanuc Automation and GE Fanuc Embedded Systems—has been quick to say it sees the effi...

Vertical expertise: Aluminum maker chooses specialized measurement and control solution

One of the largest aluminum manufacturers in China expects to reduce plant downtime and boost product quality by installing a specialized measurement and control solution from Honeywell.

Red alert: Increase in process automation heightens need for safety-related systems

As process-oriented manufacturers look to boost efficiency by automating more of their operations, they also will be looking for automation solutions that incorporate safety features. That’s the prediction of Frost & Sullivan, the international consulting firm that just completed a study on the market for safety-oriented systems.

Seeing a better future: Simulation software renders optimal plant layout before construction

MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, a heavy-duty truck manufacturer based in Munich, Germany, is substantially cutting the cost of building a new production facility by using the simulation capabilities of the DELMIA Process Engineer software package from Dassault Systemes.

Aberdeen advisory: Best-in-Class service means leveraging BI for customer retention

A new report confirms that best-in-class service organizations are adopting data-analysis tools, common knowledge bases, and simulation modeling technology to increase the speed and quality of post-sales service decision-making.

Credit index: Manufacturing, service sectors showing signs of contraction

In his monthly commentary regarding a national survey of credit managers in the manufacturing and service sectors, Euler Hermes ACI Chief Economist Daniel C. North says survey data showed a decline for the third straight month in the manufacturing and service sectors.

Global concerns: Privately held manufacturers fret over rising energy, materials costs

Rising raw materials and energy prices have become major concerns for privately held manufacturing companies, according to a recent survey from Grant Thornton International. Globally, 61 percent of surveyed businesses reported being most concerned about raw materials costs, while 45 percent listed energy costs as their greatest concern.

PTC sponsoring contest to highlight design ingenuity

The Redefining Innovation contest is open users of PTC® Pro/ENGINEER® Wildfire® 2.0. Contestants have until January 15, 2008 to submit their ideas for the next breakthrough product. 

Better control: Rockwell Automation gets advanced modeling technology

Rockwell Automation will add predictive modeling capabilities to its line of process automation solutions through the acquisition of Pavilion Technologies. Modeling technology allows users to predict how production processes will be affected as certain conditions—temperature, pressure, etc.—change. Having ready access to this information enables companies to wring more value from existing production assets. 

High-tech logistics: Menlo Amsterdam facility serves up pan-European transportation management

Global logistics supplier Menlo Worldwide has a new European headquarters in the Amsterdam area to serve companies in the high-tech industry and other markets.

Bottom line benefit: address employee engagement to end steep turnover, grow customer loyalty

The cost to replace an employee can be as high as 2.41 percent of annual salary, according to a study by Metrus Group, but the long-term cost to the organization's service-profit chain often is even higher. The service-profit chain establishes the relationship between corporate policies, employee satisfaction, value creation, customer loyalty, and profitability.

Durable goods manufacturers seek and find additional risk management coverage

Manufacturers are particularly prone to major financial losses should an accident or disaster occur.

Briggs & Stratton integrates SAP with MCA service planning for the aftermarket

Briggs & Stratton Corp.—the largest manufacturer of small, air-cooled engines for lawn, garden, and other outdoor power equipment, has successfully implemented MCA Solutions' Service Planning and Optimization (SPO) suite to increase fill rates, reduce inventory, and continue to provide world-class service to their network of global distribution centers.

An acquisitive Business Objects leaps into “Top Three” in CPM ranking

Business Objects commands an 8.9-percent 2006 worldwide market share based on total software revenue.

Sterling lends suite support for Inquiry-to-Cash; Rheem taps into total enterprise integration platform

Sterling Commerce, an AT&T subsidiary, says its new Sterling Selling and Fulfillment Suite removes the barriers to successful customer and supplier interactions by providing a single end-to-end view of marketing, lead management, selling, orders, inventory, delivery and supply — plus returns, repairs, and settlement across the supply chain.

Proven performance: Bowater, Nestlé choose Cognos BI platform for systems integration and replacement needs

Bowater Inc. has standardized on Cognos performance management capabilities to quickly and efficiently analyze and report on its production operations, measure the effectiveness of its sales initiatives, and automate its financial consolidation processes.

NAFTA’s impact quantified; CATFTA’s explored

There’s little evidence that large numbers of U.S. manufacturing jobs were lost due to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In fact, most economists believe NAFTA had only a marginal impact on the much larger U.S. economy.

Yard Hound visibility suite just may be a DC’s best friend

PINC Solutions' Yard Hound Product Suite enables shippers to monitor trailers inside their customers’ yards via RFID.

NAM outlook: Overall industry confidence rising

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)/Industry Week business outlook survey for Q2 2007 points to confidence edging up from both large and small companies, after declining during the prior four quarters.

Cargill queues up process insight using Informance manufacturing intelligence solutions

Cargill is extending its use of Informance manufacturing intelligence solutions to include its Dressings, Sauces and Oils North America (DSONA) business unit.

Hackett: Typical Fortune 500 companies net nearly $400M annually via strategic workforce planning, talent management

Hackett’s research demonstrates the bottom-line impact of more effectively managing human assets, and provides strong evidence to executives, investors, and HR leadership of the value of developing intangible assets such as a company’s workforce.