Supply Chain Systems Magazine 2004 Supply Chain Innovator Award
Given to Danaher ICG for its Use of SupplyWorks
Award Recognizes Successful Implementation of SupplyWorks MAX at Danaher ICG to Reduce Inventory, Improve Supplier Communication and Visibility across Multiple Plants
BEDFORD, Mass, 10/12/04 — SupplyWorks, Inc., the leader in direct materials procurement and replenishment solutions for discrete manufacturers, today announced that Supply Chain Systems Magazine has selected Danaher Industrial Controls Group (ICG), a business unit of Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR), as a “2004 Supply Chain Innovator” for its implementation of SupplyWorks® MAX™.
Danaher is a leading manufacturer of process/environmental controls and tools and components. Supply Chain Systems Magazine’s annual Supply Chain Innovator awards were presented to 13 companies that successfully implemented supply chain management software and hardware, as well as changes in company processes. The award honors Danaher ICG for its successful use of SupplyWorks MAX to reduce inventory, improve supplier communication and visibility across multiple plants, and reduce costs.
Committed to lean manufacturing concepts, Danaher ICG was looking for a way to improve its kanban system for incoming parts—a system where physical cards are used to manage and track inventory—for each of its nearly 50,000 parts across four of its plants. By implementing SupplyWorks MAX, the company improved upon its lean manufacturing system to create a wireless e-kanban system for supplier replenishment. The system combines software, plant floor wireless handheld devices and bar coding to greatly streamline its supplier signaling process by eliminating lost cards, increasing visibility and reducing administrative tasks, while adding analytics, alerts and supplier management.
Early results show that SupplyWorks MAX with wireless kanban automation helps Danaher ICG reduce expedites and overdue orders, and frees up their professional buyers to manage supplier relationships, instead of being managed by the kanban cards.
“SupplyWorks congratulates Danaher ICG for receiving the Supply Chain Systems Magazine Innovator award,” said SupplyWorks president and CEO Dave Wangler. “They have demonstrated a best practices implementation of SupplyWorks MAX which shows how manufacturers can communicate and collaborate more tightly with their suppliers and optimize the flow of parts and materials into their plants to reduce inventories and lower the cost of goods sold.”
“When we select the Supply Chain Innovators, the editors of Supply Chain Systems Magazine look for companies that have successfully implemented supply chain management software and hardware, as well as changes in company processes,” said David Andrews, editorial director of the magazine. “The Danaher Industrial Controls Group analyzed its previous, card-based kanban replenishment system and made it more efficient and reliable by implementing SupplyWorks’ software with wireless and bar coding for e-kanban. But they went beyond applying the technology to just automate existing processes. The new system allows a wide range of new capabilities, such as analytics based on supplier business performance, traceability, better control, and the ability to receive alerts about exceptional conditions such as late shipments, over delivery and blanket order expirations. The result is the ability to manage suppliers better and to take action before exceptional conditions in their supply chain cause operational or customer fulfillment problems.”
Each year, the editors of Supply Chain Systems Magazine, in partnership with AMR Research, review the nominations from companies that have used supply chain technology in their businesses to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve profits and customer service. Supply Chain Systems Magazine’s editors then vote for the companies that best illustrate the benefits of supply chain software and hardware in today’s dynamic business environment. The 2004 winners are each profiled in Supply Chain Systems Magazine’s October 2004 issue, as well as online at www.scs-mag.com.
About Supply Chain Systems Magazine
Supply Chain Systems Magazine (www.scs-mag.com), published by Helmers Publishing, Inc., is the magazine for business decision makers who implement and approve complete systems for manufacturing/supply chain management. Supply Chain Systems Magazine also publishes an online newsletter, Supply Chain NewsLink. Helmers Publishing Inc., established in 1979, also publishes Desktop Engineering (www.deskeng.com), the first magazine to exclusively cover hardware and software design engineering solutions.
About Danaher Corporation
Danaher Corporation, a leading industrial company, designs manufacturers and markets innovative products, services and technologies with strong brand names and significant market positions. Driven by strong core values and a foundation provided by the Danaher Business System, Danaher’s associates are pursuing a focused strategy aimed at creating a premier global enterprise.
About SupplyWorks
SupplyWorks, Inc. is the leader in direct materials supply management software that helps discrete manufacturers improve procurement execution, optimize the flow of parts and materials into their plants and lower their parts and material costs. SupplyWorks enables manufacturers to communicate and collaborate more tightly with their suppliers, increase throughput, and reduce inventories without reducing manufacturing responsiveness and flexibility. Information about SupplyWorks and its solutions is available on the Web at www.supplyworks.com or by calling 800-626-0220 x1690.
Media Contacts:
Erik Clausen or Nicole Piotrowicz
Schwartz Communications
781-684-0770
supplyworks@schwartz-pr.com |