Connecting and managing suppliers end-to-end

Solving complex business issues today

 

An international computer manufacturer     
An international computer manufacturer
A cumbersome procurement system was hampering a manufacturer's ability to remain competitive in the PC market. IBM helped the company reduce costs, shorten procurement cycle time and decrease inventory time by building one of the first procurement systems based on XML.
   

Case studies

A major healthcare insurance company

This solution applied the tools and methods of IBM’s Model-Driven Business Transformation capability to the needs of a major insurance company. IBM developed new models and linkages that helped enhance the company’s ability to monitor its business processes and make modifications in response to changes in the external environment.

Tough problems solved

Dynamic Inventory Optimization System

IBM Research Services takes a closer look at improving inventory control to help companies better calculate future needs – and eliminate unnecessary and costly stockpiling. Some clients have already reduced safety stock requirements by as much as 40 percent.

Inventory optimization with SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence

Supply chain design and optimization can be a cost-efficient way to add value across an enterprise, and IBM has developed a solution that can help trim costs, improve customer service and boost cash flow.

Managing the Supply Chain

Supply chains are vulnerable to disruptions from both the supply and demand side. Supply shocks include the challenges of fast new product rollouts and frequent order changes. Demand shocks include fickle customer preferences coupled with ever-greater pricing power. Revenues get squeezed, but costs don't budge. Learn how IBM Research solved these issues by designing and implementing an XML-based, open architecture, e-procurement system with a vast supplier base; how the system cut inventory storage time and procurement cycle time by about half; and, most importantly, how it’s helping the company deliver products to customers faster.

On the drawing board

Secure Trade Lane for worldwide goods exchange

IBM Research’s Secure Trade Lane solution concept helps facilitate a more secure exchange of container-based goods shipped worldwide.

Other

Changrui Ren

Changrui Ren is working to develop process-centric supply chain transformation tools.

Connecting and managing suppliers end-to-end

Connecting and managing suppliers end-to-end

With IBM Research Services' collaboration, management and optimization tools, businesses are able to connect to their suppliers more efficiently while reducing costs, mitigating risks and improving overall business performance.


More on the issue

Transforming your supply chain to on demand: Competitive advantage or competitive necessity?

Today's industry leaders are moving away from static supply chains and towards dynamic and responsive on demand supply chains.


Related research

Designing contracts with built-in flexibility for optimal results

IBM has developed a method that determines near-optimal commitments and purchasing quantities for component supply contracts.