Plexus Systems, Inc., providers of Plexus Online on-demand software for the manufacturing enterprise, is sharing an informative white paper by the Aberdeen Group to help manufacturers understand key attributes for successful compliance and traceability initiatives.
Plexus Systems, Inc. sponsored the Aberdeen research paper, entitled "Compliance and Traceability in Manufacturing." It is now available for a free download at www.plex.com/aberdeen.
The Aberdeen Group surveyed over 650 manufacturing executives to understand key capabilities that help with compliance and traceability initiatives. The research discovered compelling facts about best-in-class manufacturers: They respond to non-conforming shipments up to 44 hours ahead of laggard manufacturers. They manufacture 98 percent of their product in compliance, compared to 85 percent for laggard companies. They realize 95 percent first yield, compared to 74 percent for laggards.
The research also shows that best-in-class manufacturers are more likely to integrate product and process data collection across the supply chain resulting in a 36 minute response time to non-conforming shipment.
Mehul Shah, a research analyst with the Aberdeen Group adds, "Best-in-Class companies are more likely to adopt technology for compliance and traceability initiatives at an enterprise wide level. With enterprise wide adoption companies can define common goals, objectives, and metrics to measure performance across the supply chain. This also provides an opportunity for individuals from across the organization to have "skin-in-the-game" in the success of the enterprise as a whole"
Plexus Online is one of the technologies identified in the report. Plexus Online offers over 350 functional modules, providing companies instant access to vital information and management functions using a simple web browser. The on-demand solution features enterprise resource planning (ERP) functions such as accounting and finance modules, customer relationship management (CRM) features such as order entry and tracking, manufacturing execution systems (MES) functions such as production scheduling and machine integration, and supply chain management (SCM) functions such as supplier quality and traceability.
About Plexus Systems, Inc.:
Since 1995, Plexus Systems, Inc. (Auburn Hills, Mich.) has maintained a singular vision -- to drive significant cost, quality and productivity improvements for manufacturers, from the shop floor to the top floor. Plexus Online™ is an on-demand software for the manufacturing enterprise, delivering a powerful, real-time interface. Plexus Systems originated internally at a manufacturing company, and was designed to resolve quality challenges, including production, distribution and global supply chains management issues. Today, Plexus Online also enables businesses to manage accounting, financials, compliance and human resources and other top priorities. Plexus Systems serves a cross section of manufacturing industries (OEM and suppliers), particularly automotive, defense, medical device and aerospace companies headquartered in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
Plexus Systems has partnered with Apax Partners (www.apax.com), one of the world's leading global private equity groups, to drive global expansion and further strengthen the company's products, services and market position. Apax Partners operates across the US, Europe and Asia and has more than $20 billion in funds under management and advice. In 2006, funds advised by Apax made a strategic investment in Plexus Systems, joining the founding investment group as stakeholders in Plexus. Visit www.plex.com for more information.
About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company:
Aberdeen is a leading provider of fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having benchmarked more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is uniquely positioned to educate users to action: driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the global technology markets, corporations turn to AberdeenTM for insights that drive decisions.
As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement - Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role Harte-Hanks brings to the market.