Digital transformation of supply chain operations is essential in driving efficiency and key to the process is supply chain planning.
Manufacturers need to become more responsive to consumer needs and provide visibility to all stakeholders in the supply chain, and digital planning solutions can deliver both objectives.
Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA, a power sports manufacturer, has chosen to digitally transform its supply chain and will implement Blue Yonder’s SaaS-based, integrated supply chain planning solutions and Control Tower on Luminate platform, to improve demand forecasting, advance supply planning, optimise inventory and enable end-to-end visibility and supplier collaboration.
Kawasaki manufactures motorcycles, ATVs, side x sides, and personal watercrafts. The company distributes these powersports products through a network for more than 1,100 dealers across the U.S. To support its dealer network and ultimately its customers Kawasaki is shifting the way it does business to meet future demand, so it turned to Blue Yonder for the solution. The project will be implemented by Blue Yonder’s Global Professional Services team.
With the new solutions, Kawasaki will be able to establish a best-in-class, demand-driven dynamic replenishment process that greatly improves dealer service levels; optimise inventory within dealer network and Kawasaki while improving customer satisfaction; provide near real-time planning and execution level visibility of upstream supply from factories for improved resilience; and increase its agility to respond to dealer orders and offer shorter turnaround time in its dealer network from order to delivery, improving speed to retail.
“To meet fundamental changes in our business we needed a supply chain solution that allows us to offer our dealer network the right products, at the right speed, and with planning and demand accuracy which in turn benefits our end consumer,” Eigo Konya, president, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., said. “Blue Yonder proved to be the best supply chain solutions provider to meet all the requirements, so we are excited to go to the next level with them.”
With Blue Yonder’s supply chain planning solutions, Kawasaki will be able to gain an improved understanding of demand drivers and customer behaviour to provide a unique demand projection and an agile supply plan.
Kawasaki will also be able to stage the right inventory throughout its distribution network and at its dealers, minimising stock-outs, and improve working capital. In addition,the company will be able to optimise its inventory to build and sustain its competitive advantage by aligning inventory planning, strategy, and execution with its strategic business goals for service, production, and distribution to reduce overall landed cost and improve planner efficiency. Kawasaki will gain end-to-end visibility of its supply chain, allowing it to gain insights to see, understand, act, and learn on near real-time information to improve on time in full performance, profitability, and sustainability.
“When Kawasaki came to us seeking solutions to meet their needs, we listened to understand what goes into their business considerations and aligned with them for a value-based transformation blueprint that could meet their end-to-end supply chain requirements. We are excited to be working with them on their digital supply chain transformation, which will improve their consumer-centricity and ability to meet their dealer network’s needs. We look forward to helping them grow their business and sharpen their competitive advantages,” said Terry Turner, president of manufacturing at Blue Yonder.
