Specialist supply chain systems can make a difference

Formerly troubled advanced supply chain systems firm i2 is back on the offensive and offering manufacturers systems to manage complex supply chains to gain competitive edge. “We have technology that truly makes a difference,” says Jim Contardi, president EMEA for i2, rejecting criticism that the big ERP software vendors have caught up. He refers to i2’s standards- and Web services-based Supply Chain Operational Services (SCOS), launched last year, that provides an infrastructure for supply chain management. “It’s still a bit of an early adopter market, but we’re targeting companies that think of their supply chains strategically,” he says. And as the macro economy improves, he expects their numbers to swell. Nokia’s system provides one of the best examples: as changes in demand hit that supply chain they’re propagated up and down its supply chain “within one hour,” enabling all to deviate from the common plan quickly but in a controlled manner. As supply chains grow in importance, Contardi expects the concept of “networks of collaboration” to ramp up in importance, with web-connected workflows providing the edge. “The main deal is return on capital employed,” says Contardi. “It can make a very big difference.” Current users include British Aerospace for strategic purchasing, and Corus for production supply chain management.