News#
September 2009#
SimFlex Insider#
Welcome to SimFlex Insider September 2009 edition which brings you the latest news about SimFlex Group, solutions and best practices in supply chain management.
SimFlex is a Best-of-Breed strategic and operations planning tool that enables companies to analyze current and projected supply chain performance from a holistic perspective, and solve a wide range of business challenges using multiple simulation and optimization technologies.
SimFlex When and Where You Want It#
The availability of On-demand, or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technologies are transforming the supply chain management software landscape. Using a subscription-based approach, SimFlex On-Demand offers distinct advantages over a traditional software license:
- Rapid deployment through a streamlined deployment process and limited IT resources
- Lower cost of ownership and reduced risk as no up-front investment in infrastructure (hardware or software) or IT resources is required.
- Immediate access to updates as new releases are seamlessly integrated and provided as part of the service
- Scalable, with additional users/capability added when needed
- Secure, with data encryption using SSL technology
How Green is your Supply Chain?#
SimFlex customers can benefit of having a single platform to manage not only their operating performance but also their carbon footprint and GHG emissions across all core value chain processes including product design and development, order fulfillment, end-to-end supply chain and after-sales activities.
By balancing a variety of trade-offs and using modern optimization and simulation techniques, SimFlex offers an integrated solution to manage the environmental impact of your business.
July 2009#
SimFlex Insider#
We are delighted to announce the release of our new website, with improved content and a great new look! The SimFlex Portal contains all you would expect from a website, and more. Not only can you access case studies, solution briefs and follow latest news and events, but you can also log in to My SimFlex and launch SimFlex or search the SimFlex Knowledge Base. It's a one-stop-shop for all your strategic and tactical supply chain planning requirements!
Login to the SimFlex Portal to Access#
SimFlex LITE
SimFlex LITE now offers a robust, easy to use solution to manage your strategic value chain planning landscape. Based on a portfolio of the latest technologies and concepts and fully web-enabled, SimFlex Lite is creating new opportunities by drastically reducing the costs of ownership, support and services.
SimFlex Knowledge Base
Accessible by all users, the KB encourages collaboration, through a self-managed and maintained user community who can freely contribute supply chain material and best practices. Although designed to improve the user experience, the ultimate goal of the SimFlex KB is to enhance general supply chain knowledge and skills.
Are you interested in trying SimFlex LITE and/or the SimFlex Knowledge Base? If so, you are welcome to request free access through the SimFlex Access Request form.
SimFlex Value Offering#
The SimFlex Group provides end-to-end supply chain optimization software and services. SimFlex is a suite of tools that can be applied across the entire supply chain planning spectrum, tackling long-term strategic decisions, and recurring operational issues. A combination of 'people, processes and technology' creates significant value through optimal supply chain design, efficient asset utilization, reduced inventories and improved service levels to customers.
SimFlex is applied in the following situations:
- Identifying the lowest total cost value chain and/or logistics network that meets business objectives, financial targets and service levels requirements.
- Improving current performance and proactively managing supply chain issues through increased visibility and short to mid-term operations planning
- Driving improvements in inventory velocity and customer service levels, while minimizing tied-up capital and exposure to supply chain risk.
Customized interactive portal workspaces!#
SimFlex is happy to announce the successful deployment of customized interactive workspaces for our customers within the confines of the SimFlex Portal. Our customers currently use it for knowledge sharing, live discussions, and new-hire training on supply chain knowledge & SimFlex cases relevant to their organizations.
We are excited about collaborating with customers to further develop interactive features and enhance the overall user-experience.
May 2009#
SimFlex Insider#
Welcome to SimFlex Insider May 2009 edition which brings you the latest news about SimFlex Group, solutions and best practices in supply chain management.
SimFlex is a Best-of-Breed strategic and operations planning tool that enables companies to analyze current and projected supply chain performance from a holistic perspective. SimFlex solves a wide range of business challenges using multiple simulation and optimization technologies.
Cloud Computing#
With the advent of Cloud Computing, the total cost of ownership of software applications is plunging fast by several orders of magnitude. At the same time, applications accessibility and delivery models flexibility have enabled to bring together the "lite" nature of Web applications and "power" of traditional client-server architectures. Many believe that Cloud Computing is changing not just the technology landscape but also the entire nature of the business models that underpin successful software and hardware companies.
SimFlex employs the best of the two worlds - analytical and decision support capabilities of its core architecture and flexibility of Cloud Computing concept. SimFlex is increasing its exposure to different "pay-as-you-go" business models that, combined with intra- and inter- enterprise collaboration capabilities, brings SimFlex customers unparalleled benefits of the "lite power" at their hands.
Success Story#
A major electronics OEM was recently readying the launch of their latest consumer products, and faced a challenging (but very typical) planning problem - invest in capacity and start ramp production later, minimising inventory exposure, or limit capacity investment, ramping earlier, steadily building inventories prior to launch.
SimFlex was used to determine the level of tooling capacity for sub-assemblies and components that would optimally balance investment costs, and the risks associated with inventory exposure. Given this tooling level, SimFlex then determined the procurement, production and shipment plan to ensure sufficient product availability at launch, with the minimum end-to-end cost. A robust process was put in place to enable these plans to be reviewed and re-optimised on a recurring basis, due to changes in the forecast, or in the supply chain.
Results
- Reduced tooling costs for the latest product portfolio by $3.8M
- Reduced inventory exposure by $4.5M per month
- Successfully challenged planned future capital expenditure, saving $4M.
- Identified opportunities to reduce peak finished goods inventory by $22M
Enhancing supply chain knowledge through sharing!#
SimFlex, often a pioneer in the supply chain planning industry has again created a first with the establishment of the SimFlex Knowledge Base. Accessible by all users, the KB encourages collaboration, through a self-managed and maintained user community who can freely contribute supply chain material and best practices. Although designed to improve the user experience, the ultimate goal of the SimFlex KB is to enhance general supply chain knowledge and skills.
For more information, email info.simflex(at)flextronics.com.
March 2009#
Follow SimFlex on Twitter#
Follow SimFlex updates on Twitter now, www.twitter.com/simflex
If you have problems following SimFlex on Twitter, please email info.simflex(at)flextronics.com.
January 2009#
SimFlex now available through the Web#
A primary challenge of any modern organization is to effectively collaborate towards a common goal. Being among the first movers from standalone SCM application to Java-based enterprise technology, and offering a client-server model, SimFlex has enhanced its enterprise capabilities and can be now deployed over the Web. Aside from the obvious convenience and immediacy benefits of being able to interact with SimFlex through a web browser, there are numerous other advantages available, including:
- Lower total cost of ownership
- Convenient on-demand access to SimFlex services
- Faster and easier user training
- 8 Full SimFlex functionality via Rich Internet Application (RIA) paradigm
Combined with unique functional advantages recognized by existing customers and independent researchers, and a rapid, flexible integration with companies' IT infrastructure, SimFlex now offers a distinctive web-based supply and value chain management platform. Based on a portfolio of the latest technologies and concepts, SimFlex Web is creating new opportunities by drastically reducing the costs of ownership, support and services.
For more information, email info.simflex(at)flextronics.com.
December 2008#
SimFlex goes Green!#
Through improvement of their supply chain operations, companies can reduce costs, strengthen profitability, improve customer service, and enhance competitiveness. However, the impact and benefits of Green supply chain are now increasingly recognized by business community and society. SimFlex customers can benefit of having a single platform to manage not only their operating performance but also their carbon footprint and GHG emissions across all core value chain processes including product design and development, order fulfillment, end-to-end supply chain and after-sales activities.
SimFlex Green enables customer to:
- optimize transportation network to reduce fuel usage and carbon footprint
- use carbon emissions in manufacturing and distribution trade-off analysis
- improve capacity utilization of production sites to keep equipment operating at optimum energy consumption levels
- use reporting capabilities to dynamically track 'Green' indicators
By balancing a variety of trade-offs and using modern optimization and simulation techniques, SimFlex offers an integrated solution to manage the environmental impact of their business.
Success Story
In recent study performed for major OEM, SimFlex identified the roadmap for improving emissions in the end-to-end supply chain. By assessing cost-environmental trade-offs across different manufacturing footprintpostponement strategies, SimFlex helped to realize a reduction in GHG emissions of up to 50%.
For more information, email info.simflex(at)flextronics.com.