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IBM > Case Studies > A Latin American engineering firm improves business efficiency with enterprise-wide profitability analysis
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A Latin American engineering firm improves business efficiency with enterprise-wide profitability analysis

Technology Category
  • Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
  • Processors & Edge Intelligence - Embedded & Edge Computers
Applicable Functions
  • Business Operation
Use Cases
  • Inventory Management
  • Supply Chain Visibility
Services
  • System Integration
  • Software Design & Engineering Services
The Challenge
A new unit of a Latin American engineering firm was struggling with unreliable financial reporting, which prevented it from understanding the true profitability of its products. The lack of accurate data made it difficult for the unit to identify inefficiencies, remove unprofitable products, and understand the real profitability of its product lines. This situation was hindering the company's ability to compete effectively on a corporate-wide level. The firm's IT department decided to replace multiple independent systems in the new unit with integrated solutions.
About The Customer
The customer is a Latin American engineering firm that manufactures sophisticated equipment for industrial use. The company recently acquired a new branch, which became part of the group. As part of the acquisition process, the firm wanted to align its new unit’s financial processes and analysis with the group’s standards. However, the new unit was unable to provide general management with accurate information due to their aging, highly customized, and decentralized systems that delivered incomplete and unreliable financial data.
The Solution
The firm's IT department collaborated with IBM, a long-term partner, to replace multiple independent systems in the new unit with integrated SAP ERP solutions. The company implemented a comprehensive set of SAP ERP applications, including Financials, Controlling, Materials Management, Sales and Distribution, Production Planning, Plant Maintenance, Customer Service, SAP Business Warehouse, and SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence. The SAP applications are supported and managed by experts from the Application Management Services division of IBM Global Business Services. The SAP landscape in the new unit runs on IBM Power 570 Express servers, featuring IBM DB2 database software and the IBM AIX operating system.
Operational Impact
  • The firm's new unit uses the integrated SAP applications to provide reliable, accurate data for its core business activities, standardized to enable unit- and group-level analysis.
  • The group is able to assess sales, inventory, and production at the enterprise level and drill down immediately to the new unit, comparing like-for-like.
  • Significant data quality improvements have enabled the company to better predict sales outcomes of each one of its product lines, allowing it to match stock levels to forecast sales.
Quantitative Benefit
  • Cut five days of inventory, releasing cash flow and saving USD200,000 of labor costs in the first year.
  • Reduced inventory costs by more than USD150,000 per year.

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