
The consumer products giant, Reynolds Consumer Products is helping keep food fresh longer and kitchen safe. With approximately 95% of American households relying on products like recyclable aluminum foil, self-sealing wax, freezer paper, disposable bakeware, trash liners, and more, this organization strives for continuous improvement in their supply chain.
As Raheel Hussain, Director of the Supply Chain Center of Excellence at Reynolds Consumer Products notes during a recent webinar, a level of synchronization is critical to systemically share information and cut down the constant offline back-and-forth (conversations) between different functions.
“Increasing service levels and reducing costs – these challenges are at the top of the priority lists of every supply chain organization. But what are they really chasing? It’s the agility to respond to changes in demand – and that starts with standardization.”
This powerful observation from Raheel, not only speaks to the ever-evolving nature of supply chain operations but also sets the stage for a remarkable continuous improvement journey.
Charting supply chain success with a practical roadmap
The transition from disparate systems to the Logility’s Digital Supply Chain, marked a turning point for the company. Combining planning systems with ERP significantly enhanced efficiency in forecasting, production scheduling, and deployment, enlightening the business about the potential of digital integration in supply chain management.
“This integration allows us to make better purchase decisions and streamline processes across the supply chain,” explains Raheel, highlighting the immediate benefits of the cohesive and comprehensive supply chain platform. The benefits of incorporating the Logility Digital Supply Chain Platform into its supply chain processes became more evident as Reynolds continued their continuous improvement journey.
For example, Reynolds integrated third-party logistics facilities into the supply network while digitizing demand and supply planning with the AI-powered platform. This proactive approach resulted in a more responsive and resilient supply chain, allowing the entire company to withstand volatility and maintain service levels with end-to-end solutions.
Since the integration project in 2021, continuous improvement has been at the heart of Reynolds’ strategy. This commitment led to a 20% improvement in forecast accuracy, significantly impacting inventory management and reducing stockouts.
Creating a culture of innovation and adaptability
The relentless focus on continuous improvement has fostered a culture of innovation and adaptability within Reynolds’ supply chain. This culture shift was crucial for achieving long-term success and staying competitive in a dynamic market.
One improvement that has dramatically changed supply chain operations is the addition of standardized analytics in its strategic decision-making processes. This strategic approach, which provides access to more accurate forecasts and aligns demand planning with internal sales and marketing functions, offers valuable insights supporting strategic leadership decisions and driving operational excellence.
“Standardized analytics enhanced our business agility, allowing us to proactively manage risks and respond to market changes in real time,” Raheel says. “The ability to analyze data quickly and effectively is crucial to stay ahead of the competition.”
The opportunity to automate routine decision-making also played a significant role in improving forecast accuracy and reducing costs. By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, Reynolds eliminated manual work, allowing demand planners to focus on more strategic tasks.
“Automation increased forecast accuracy by 7% in 2023 alone,” shares Raheel, demonstrating the impact of the advanced technology on supply chain management.” This improvement is streamlining operations as well as enabling employees to make better decisions faster.
And the continuous improvement journey continues – reaching as far as Reynolds’ sales and operations execution (S&OE) processes. Implementing a supply planning tool facilitated collaboration across departments, improved supply chain visibility, and supported long-term planning.
“This integration has been instrumental in achieving operational excellence and setting the stage for future supply chain strategies,” Raheel said. By enhancing communication and sharing data between teams, S&OE integration optimized current operations. More importantly, S&OE provided a solid foundation for anticipating future challenges and opportunities, ensuring sustained success in an ever-evolving market.
Setting a standard that’s anything but ordinary
Reynolds Consumer Products’ continuous improvement journey is a testament to the power of an AI-first digital supply chain platform that reimagines the approach to supply chain management. Reynolds’ dedication to standardization, automation, and excellence is not only inspiring but also sets a high standard for the consumer goods industry.
By strategically implementing advanced technologies and relentlessly focusing on process enhancement, Logility’s solutions created a space for Reynolds’ adaptability to navigate market volatility with a level of effectiveness that surpasses its competition.
As it continues to refine strategies and embrace advanced technologies, Reynolds raises the bar for supply chain excellence in the dynamic and ever-evolving market – demonstrating that continuous improvement is a journey that’s always worth undertaking.
Watch: Beyond S&OP: The Journey to Integrated S&OE at Reynolds Consumer Products
To hear more about Reynolds Consumer Products’ continuous improvement journey with the Logility Digital Supply Chain Platform, watch the on-demand webinar.
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