"Grow or die." This dictum is not new to manufacturing, and although it can be over dramatized, there is a stark truth here that companies must accept, especially in the context of today's global economy. Take a close look at the world's major manufacturing corporations whose annual revenues exceed $1 billion, and you will see that they have risen above the competition because they have learned how to respond to the pressures of conducting business in a world where suppliers, competitors, and markets can be located on any continent. Those companies whose annual revenues fall between $50 million and $1 billion-call them Mid- Market manufacturers or Strategic Growth Enterprises-face the same challenges and must also learn to master the global game. There are solutions. Information is the lifeblood of effective planning, which in turn is the foundation for creating a tight, demand-driven supply chain. Establishing enterprise information flows is paramount, but it is a daunting task that is much more complicated than shipping parts or finished goods around the world. The right tools are needed to transform the growth strategy from theory into reality.

Source: http://www.knowledgestorm.com/ Published on: September 2008.