Industries > Manufacturing & Distribution

Industry Challenges
In order to survive in an industry punctuated by dramatic swings in demand and short product lifecycles, Electronics and High Technology (E&HT) manufacturers must deliver technical innovations and satisfy customer demand while containing costs. Competitive imperatives have led to the adoption of "outsourced manufacturing strategies," in order to reduce costs, while speeding time to market and enhancing operational flexibility.

Supply-Side
Despite highly leveraged manufacturing models, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are still exposed to significant liabilities from building and delivering products to customers. Keeping fragmented operations in sync and distributed inventories under control is a constant challenge.

Demand-Side
Sudden and severe market swings as well as price fluctuations, characterize the Electronics and High Tech industry. The volatility of the Electronics and High Tech industry make forecasting demand accurately very difficult. The resulting variability and the poor visibility across the demand chain make it difficult to respond rapidly to changes in demand. Mismatches in supply and demand are common and high customer service level is difficult to maintain.