Project Experience

Information Technology Differences Among Competitors Provide Direction on Productivity Improvements and Cost Savings Opportunities

Client Situation
Differences in the use of technology can have a significant impact on a company's operating efficiencies and costs. Technology providers, plant managers, line operators and quality assurance personnel can provide information on the use of technology in the manufacturing process and the resulting benefits, such as increased operating efficiencies, lower labor costs, etc. Our client is a leading producer of carbonated drinks and it has tended to look inwardly for process improvements.

Fuld Approach
By speaking with manufacturing personnel of a number of different plants as well as technology providers to the industry, we identified major investments in information technology, which cut production losses in half. Additionally, we identified changes in labor work rules that reduced maintenance costs and downtime, along with successful efforts to improve flexibility and reduced materials costs in packaging.

Benefits and Implications
Our analysis resulted in a roadmap of changes for our client to consider emulating or adapting to its own manufacturing operations to improve its own profitability. For more information, contact Michael Sandman at msandman@fuld.com.