Abstract: Today's usage of Decision Support Systems (DSS), combined with vetted SCM knowledge bases, allows organizations to save time and money, achieving better and more reliable/fully-documented decisions, a quantum improvement over the widely-used subjective process of selecting complex enterprise software...

Abstract: Chemical companies struggle with outdated manufacturing and financial systems, often not reaching their profitable goals. How can they give customers high-quality chemical products while improving the bottom line? Industry best practices can help you gain control over every aspect of your business by increasing your visibility into operations, helping production go more smoothly, and reducing costs and lead times.

Abstract: Strem Chemicals, which manufactures and distributes specialty chemicals, implemented ProcessPro’s Warehouse Management Solution (WMS). The solution helped them streamline their processes and reduce operational costs, by reducing their overall shipping errors, eliminating the label planning function, and eliminating the dual recording of a majority of their inventory transactions.

Abstract: The continuous chemical industries typically share an objective of running at near 100% utilization. This and other realities yield unique requirements for a Supply Chain Planning (SCP) system. This article discusses some of these unique needs.

Abstract: High-tech and electronics, chemical, and oil and gas industries each have their fair share of regulatory requirements to meet, and an increasing number include environmental directives. Enterprise applications designed to meet their distinct needs should help pave the way to compliance.

Abstract: For over 30 years, Madison Chemical Industries has sold 100 percent polyurethane coatings and linings to companies around the globe. With the technical challenges it faced as a growing company, it was becoming clear that the DOS-based system it was using to maintain its inventory had to go. With an integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, however, Madison has been able to reduce its inventory by 15 percent.

Abstract: Supply chain management (SCM), a critical part of your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, means more than getting the right resources to the right place at the right time. It also means optimally tuning the sequence of events involved in producing goods and distributing them to customers. And if your chief financial officer (CFO) isn’t actively involved in analyzing your ERP/SCM system, it’s about time to start.

Abstract: Chemical manufacturers are faced with change at unprecedented levels. Some manufacturers are experiencing tremendous growth, while others are simply trying to keep their doors open. Regardless of current strengths and weaknesses, every company in the industry faces every type of operational pressure, and no company can afford to wait for the pace of change to slow before making key decisions.

Abstract: Chemical companies are living in a new, more complex world—one that calls for meeting demand through cooperating internally, opening processes to partners, suppliers, and customers, and developing newfound abilities to collaborate and change. In other words, the adaptive business network (ABN). But how do you create a successful ABN? And how does that translate into a competitive advantage?

Abstract: Customizing third-party “vendor” source code is becoming increasingly common. But managing the incorporation of vendor application releases alongside customizations requires an additional layer of software configuration management (SCM) to integrate subsequent vendor releases. Traditional branch-based SCM tools require an unnecessarily complex branch-and-merge process. However, there is a more intuitive and efficient parallel development model for managing customizations to vendor code.

Abstract: Most software configuration management (SCM) systems rely on metadata annotations to support basic system operations, such as computing the contents of software configurations. With AccuRev, configurations are first-class objects called 'streams,' whose contents aren't defined in terms of metadata annotations at all. AccuRev relies on the chronology of SCM operations, enabling users to leverage the incremental nature of the process.

Abstract: Learn how C&H Chemical integrated all of its critical business functions, such as its sales order and work order processing, manufacturing requirement processing, purchase order, and quality control processes.

Abstract: The pharmaceutical industry is highly competitive, regulated, and in a permanent state of change. Customers demand instant attention, while suppliers require comprehensive leading edge services with regard to their products. Regulatory authorities require that the industry keep up to date with regulations, following them to the letter. Competitors are always inventing new ways to gain market share, while e-business presents new opportunities and challenges. All the while the pressure to reduce prices and to shorten order cycles is high. Pharmaceutical wholesalers comprise the lifeline within the pharmaceutical industry, providing continuity of supply and facilities for storage. They also offer a range of supporting services, such as information technology systems and product withdrawal notifications, which form an essential part of the total healthcare package. These companies and institutions all operate in an environment where speed and efficiency may mean the difference between life and death. However, the industry has a number of specific requirements that are critical for achieving success in the distribution sector.

Abstract: The challenges that face the manufacturing industry today are also opportunities. Manufacturing is being revolutionized in its processes, routines, and ways of doing business through the growing emergence of order driven production methods. This shift towards demand driven manufacturing is emerging in tandem with the larger currents caused by globalization. This cross industry brief focuses on the manufacturing industry from the standpoint of a demand driven IT solution and is aimed at manufacturing and distribution businesses. It describes some major market trends and issues, provides an overview of IBS supply chain solution, and offers details on how the IBS solution for demand driven manufacturing can address current needs of the industry.

Abstract: This article summarizes the findings from a study of why customers failed to attain the full value potential of their SCM projects. Most SCM projects continue to focus much of their energy on technology implementations and simply pay lip service to end-user training and executive alignment. Learn the pitfalls causing SCM project failures and how to avoid them.

Abstract: SCM vendors are adding best of breed solutions to ERP product suites and are aggressively marketing this new functionality. The SCM market has been growing so strongly that where SCM was once viewed as a means to gain competitive advantage, companies now see it as a necessary extension of an ERP system, especially Inventory Management and Optimization solutions.

Abstract: While the recent initiatives by Microsoft Business Solutions to piecemeal bolster its product lines' SCM capabilities should benefit users, a lot more cohesive SCM strategy is needed for Microsoft to truly permeate the SCM mid-market.

Abstract: For chemical producers Akzo Nobel, managing a complex supply chain producing more than 2,000 chemical products was an extremely complex task. Akzo Nobel decided to implement a multi-user sales and operations planning (S&OP) system that would be available company wide. Increasing its forecast visibility raised awareness of critical issues earlier—thus reducing inventory and increasing productivity on a global scale.

Abstract: The textile industry is famous for its very different characteristics when compared to industries in either process or discrete manufacturing. Developing production planning and scheduling software for any textile mill is a real challenge even for seasoned industry experts. This article focuses on some of the unique challenges posed to master requirement planning and master production scheduling (MRP / MPS) software vendors by the textile industry.