Tata Steel to optimise development with CA’s project software

Rene Kieft, manager, product development portfolio and IP strategy, strategic marketing at Tata Steel, says that the goal is to manage the entire new product and service lifecycle, from innovation and product design, through production to delivery. He explains that Tata Steel expects to achieve a structured approach to innovation that will help drive margins and competitive differentiation, as well as improving customer loyalty. "The PPM Solution will help us to more efficiently innovate ,to speed our products to market, build market share and better align with customer needs," comments Kieft. "Efficiency is not about cutting costs, but about using what you have the best way possible, getting the most out of resources and facilities," he continues. "CA Clarity PPM will enable us to continue to innovate and adapt to customer demands." Tata Steel has been transforming its European operations into a more customer-focused organisation by realigning its internal resources to its key industry sectors, such as automotive, lifting and excavating, energy and power, packaging, construction and rail. This new organisational structure is aimed at improving customer support and thus also driving market penetration by being closer to users. CA Clarity PPM will be used to manage this process – effectively overcoming silos of product development in Tata Steel's business units to cut out duplication and optimise engineering development timeframes. Kieft says that all innovations will come under the microscope, ranging from ways to expand and improve quality and performance of the company's steel products and related service, to facilitating new product testing on an industrial scale in everything from can making to automotive components, and parts for lifting and excavating equipment. "Using CA Technologies PPM will help us implement a structured process to our innovation, product design and development processes," states Kieft. "CA Clarity PPM will give us the right documents and data to aid the decision making process, as well as a structured process to help reduce risk and keep the business focused on doing the right things well," he explains.