Supply Chain Consultants Co-Sponsors Aberdeen Study on Demand Management

Business Wire, Oct 14, 2008

Report highlights importance of effective forecasting for dealing with demand fluctuations in unstable market; details Best-in-Class attributes

WILMINGTON, Del. -- According to a new report from Aberdeen Group, best-in-class companies in process industries are 1.5-times more likely than all other companies to be able to forecast based on attribute. The study, titled "Demand Management in Process Industries: Strategies for Being Demand Driven in a Globalized Economy" is co-sponsored by Supply Chain Consultants, a leading provider of supply chain software solutions. The study also examines how process manufacturers must increase responsiveness to deal with demand fluctuations in an unstable market.

"Supply chain executives in the process industry sector are primarily concerned with being able to drive volumes in accordance with previously established plans, as well as with maximizing the utilization of assets," said Nari Viswanathan, vice president/principal analyst with Aberdeen. "Asset intensive manufacturing operations is a key common theme across process industries. These volumes are determined at the beginning of the year and the channel and sales organizations march to these goals. Volume, however, cannot be looked at as an end unto itself; it must be considered the means by which the business plans for profitability, market share, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), or other return on investment measures. Demand management processes should be then adjusted to attain these goals through becoming as close to customer demand as possible in their environment."

Findings in the study show that firms classified as Best-in-Class are:

* 1.5-times more likely than all other companies to be able to forecast based on attribute;

* Two-times more likely than all others to be able to convert forecasts at product category / family level down to the SKU level;

* Three-times more likely than all others to be able to create single demand forecasts with inputs from multiple roles within the organization; and

* Five-times more likely than all others to be able to measure end to end planning lead times.

"SCC is pleased to once again work with Aberdeen to sponsor important research findings for the supply chain, and specifically for process manufacturers," stated Sujit Singh, Supply Chain Consultants' chief operating officer. "In today's tough economy it is especially important for organizations to be responsive to customers' demands, and an important tool in doing this is an effective forecast."

For a complimentary copy of the report, click here: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=5294.

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company

Aberdeen is a leading provider of fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having benchmarked more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is uniquely positioned to educate users to action: driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the global technology markets, corporations turn to Aberdeen(TM)for insights that drive decisions.

As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement - Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role Harte-Hanks brings to the market. For additional information, visit Aberdeen http://www.aberdeen.com or call (617) 723-7890, or to learn more about Harte-Hanks, call (800) 456-9748 or go to http://www.harte-hanks.com.

About Supply Chain Consultants

Supply Chain Consultants, founded in 1993, is a software and consulting company with headquarters in Wilmington, Del., and European operations in Antwerp, Belgium. The company provides a wide range of technology and process solutions for enhancing productivity and reducing operating costs in the supply chain. Such major corporations as Hexion, Terra Industries, Sunsweet Growers, ANADIGICS, INEOS and Akzo Nobel use SCC's Zemeter products. For more information see www.supplychain.com.