PeopleSoft Ups the Ante in Manufacturing

PeopleSoft Ups the Ante in Manufacturing Introduces Performance Driven Manufacturing Suite

PeopleSoft Inc. (Nasdaq: PSFT) today announced its Performance-Driven Manufacturing suite. PeopleSoft Performance-Driven Manufacturing is the first application suite to combine manufacturing analytics, Supply Chain Planning and Business Planning onto a single Enterprise Performance Management platform. For the first time, manufacturers can leverage a single integrated platform to synchronise business and supply chain plans with manufacturing operations and as a result respond instantly to customer demand.

PeopleSoft’s Performance-Driven Manufacturing suite comprises three major components: Manufacturing Scorecard, Supply Chain and Predictive Operations Planning, and Demand Driven Manufacturing.

“Existing manufacturing systems do not deliver manufacturers the instant information they need to ensure they are maximising their operations,” said Ray Kloss, Director Product Marketing PeopleSoft, Japan and Asia Pacific. “PeopleSoft’s Performance-Driven Manufacturing presents the industry’s first solution that combines manufacturing planning and execution systems on a single analytical platform.”

Supply Chain Planning 8.8 is scheduled for general availability in June 2003. Manufacturing Scorecard, Predictive Operations Planning and Manufacturing 8.9 are scheduled for release in Q4 2003.

Notes to Editors – About PeopleSoft Performance-Driven Manufacturing Manufacturing Scorecard Today’s manufacturing systems do not address the need for real-time access to operational metrics critical to improving performance. PeopleSoft’s Manufacturing Scorecard will be the first solution to embed analytics directly into both production execution and supply chain planning processes, providing continuous feedback on operational performance. Manufacturers will be able to detect and respond in real time to production challenges and opportunities. Manufacturing Scorecard analytics will include lean manufacturing metrics and be based on industry standards such as Supply Chain Council’s Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) Version 6 specifications. These metrics will be delivered through a scorecard that can be personalised for each business function and aligned with corporate objectives through the balanced scorecard.

Supply Chain and Predictive Operations Planning Until now, supply chain planning systems have been isolated from enterprise performance management systems, resulting in quickly outdated and inaccurate operational plans. PeopleSoft Supply Chain Planning 8.8 will be the first solution built on a single performance management platform. This will enable manufacturers to use analytics to validate and continuously refine plan assumptions. Suppliers, customers and employees also will be able to collaborate and improve plan accuracy, resulting in a trusted and timely plan that directs the activities of the entire organisation.

With Predictive Operations Planning, information can be accessed in real-time through an executive portal that provides alerts, performance scorecards and “what-if” scenario modelling capabilities. For the first time, demand forecasts, business plans, budgets and supply plans will be combined on the same analytic platform. The solution revolutionises the sales and operations planning process, enabling executives to immediately assess the financial impact of alternative supply chain decisions.

“Enterprises that include supply chain performance monitoring in their operations planning process will generate more accurate plans enabling them to better leverage their resources,” said Karen Peterson of Gartner. “Supply Chain solutions that combine performance measurement with planning capabilities can deliver plans that are more predictable, accurate and executable than ever before.”

Demand-Driven Manufacturing Legacy manufacturing solutions focus on maximising the efficiency of each production step in isolation, but fail to measure the effectiveness in delivering to demand. As a result, management attention is consumed with optimising internal processes at the expense of maximising market responsiveness. PeopleSoft Manufacturing 8.9 is the first solution designed to align the complete manufacturing process with actual demand. PeopleSoft Manufacturing 8.9 will be the first packaged application to automate retail replenishment by directly linking customer point of sale data with vendor-managed inventory systems. In addition, the solution will enable Kanban management that extends process synchronisation from factory to supplier. Now production throughput can be maximised across the entire demand and supply chain.

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