Automotive sector needs to gear up for growth says Oliver Wight

BROMLEY, U.K. - Dec. 23, 2014 - PRLog -- Supply chain optimisation specialists, Oliver Wight have published a topical white paper ‘Speed agility and cost-efficiency; the future of the automotive supply chain.’ The paper reveals how the automotive industry can build strong, resilient supply chains.

As demand accelerates, how can automotive companies balance growth, visibility, profitability, cycle times, demand and complexity in the supply chain? The answer lies in Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and Demand Management, says Les Brookes, Oliver Wight CEO and Andrew Walker, Oliver Wight Associate, in their co-authored white paper.

Brookes explains: “Gone are the days when automotive companies can keep significant buffer stock – the recession taught everyone the dangers of getting caught with that stock when things change. But without the extra supply to fall back on, it is crucial automotive suppliers improve their planning beyond the three-to-six-month execution window in order to see what’s coming down the pipeline.”

The white paper explains how organisations equipped with Integrated Business Planning will benefit from:

-        Collaborative demand management: supplier and OEM aligning around the demand signal for greater efficiency and profitability

-        Bringing the future forwards: visibility of issues and gaps heading towards the business, so they can be dealt with in plenty of time

-        Improved management of working capital: finance is free to focus on value-added financial analysis instead of just forecasting

-        Supply chain collaboration: 50 percent reduction in operating costs matched with improved customer service

“Organisations must equip themselves with the right processes, tools and people to gear up for growth,” adds Walker. “Integrated Business Planning provides a holistic view of demand and a clear vision of the future, so automotive companies can extract more profitable value from complex supply chains as the market recovers.”

The white paper can be downloaded from the Oliver Wight website here: http://www.oliverwight-eame.com/en-GB/news-events/white_p...