Manufacturing Insights Europe Reveals Move from „Supply Chains“ to „Agile Supply Networks“

European companies are transforming their supply chains in „real time“ to support changing demand

MILAN, Italy, and Framingham, MA, September 25, 2007 – Global independent research and advisory firm, Manufacturing Insights, an IDC company, recently carried out a global supply chain survey to identify supply chain priorities on a global and regional basis within manufacturing and retail industry segments.

„What emerges from this Manufacturing Insights survey is that European companies need to transform their supply chain into an agile supply network in order to be able to respond in real time to signs of changing demand,“ said Pierfrancesco Manenti, EMEA research director, Manufacturing Insights, an IDC company. „In order to do that, firms need to establish a deeper collaboration with suppliers as a way to improve responsiveness across the entire value chain.“

A further comparison between Western and Eastern Europe reveals that innovation plays an essential role in Western Europe, while the importance of quality and customer satisfaction is a prerequisite for market growth for Eastern Europe.

If on the one hand the pace of innovation differentiates Western European firms from their Eastern European counterparts, the overall challenge for Western companies is trying to balance efforts in reaching contrasting business objectives of:

• Reducing overall cost and improving productivity (64.85%)
• Increasing quality and customer satisfaction (64.24%)
• Innovating in new or existing products and services (64.24%) 

On the other hand, firms from Eastern Europe are operating in the global marketplace and, in order to compete, are placing a particular effort in increasing product quality and customer satisfaction, which in the past has been considered a weakness.

More information on this survey findings will be disclosed during a complimentary live Webcast on the 11th of October will discuss main findings coming from this study. To register go here http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=IDC_P16210 or send an email to crinelli@idc.com .
This report, European Supply Chain Innovation: Responsiveness Through Collaboration (Doc # MISC02P ), by Pierfrancesco Manenti , Giacomo Laurini , Kimberly Knickle and Christopher Holmes , leveraging more than 290 European respondents, out of 823 globally, provides an insight into supply chain strategies on the following industry segments:

• Engineering-oriented value chain: manufacturers of complex products, including automotive, aerospace, and machinery products
• Brand-oriented value chain: manufacturers of branded consumer products with highly variable demand
• Asset-oriented value chains: manufacturers of base materials produced at asset-intensive facilities
• Technology-oriented value chain: manufacturers of high-technology products
• Retail/wholesale
  To obtain a copy of the report as a qualified member of the media, contact Cinzia Rinelli at crinelli@idc.com. Forall other inquiries contact info@manufacturing-insights.com

  About Manufacturing Insights, an IDC Company
  Manufacturing Insights, an IDC Company, provides business and IT decision-makers with fact-based research and analysis to inform and support critical business decisions. The global independent research and advisory firm closely follows processes associated with the design, development and distribution of goods across markets including Discrete Manufacturing, Process Manufacturing, High Tech/Electronics Manufacturing, Consumer Packaged Goods and Retail. Manufacturing Insights’ research and analysis is critical for end-users, as well as hardware and software vendors, service providers, and purveyors of IT outsourcing. Founded in January 2005, Manufacturing Insights is headquartered in Framingham, Mass. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading IT media, research and exposition company.
  For more information, please contact:

Cinzia Rinelli
crinelli@idc.com
+39-0228457367

Deborah Stark
dstark@idc.com
+1 508-935-4318