The ability to accurately forecast demand—and subsequently formulate precise and well-integrated procurement, manufacturing, inventory, distribution and transportation plans—should be a priority at almost any company.
Accenture's implementation of SAP APO DP, and the concurrent redesign of related processes, has helped Siemens Networks excel at this crucial contributor to high performance, with specific achievements such as:
- A 33 percent decrease in target forecast error.
- A 50 percent reduction in nonconformance costs—resulting in savings of $5 million.
- A new ability to perform statistical forecasting on an aggregated level.
- Better and more streamlined data flows between forecasting and planning.
Siemens Networks' new planning and forecasting processes—supported by SAP APO DP—also have improved the organization's ability to collaborate; increased user acceptance at the headquarters level; revealed new opportunities to access and share information across divisions and customers; and enabled faster detection and remediation of anomalies across the supply chain. Each of these improvements underscores the role of collaboration in attaining high performance—and the success Siemens Networks has had in making high performance happen.
According to a Siemens senior executive, "Siemens Networks has always recognized the cost—and performance—improvement benefits of superior supply/demand matching. Our collaboration with Accenture is helping us leverage planning and forecasting excellence to capture these advantages."
Effective April 1, 2007, Siemens Network has merged with Nokia NET to form Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). Based on the successful Siemens Networks Mobile Network Solution, NSN has decided to rollout a common demand/supply planning solution for the whole company to replace legacy solutions of formerly Nokia NET and Siemens Networks fixed and microwave business lines.
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