PTC announced that Fujitsu Limited has adopted the PTC Service Parts Management solution to optimize its service parts management process. The PTC solution will enable Fujitsu to improve the performance of its service parts function and reduce unnecessary inventory.
Today, Fujitsu's locations in and outside of Japan use and manage personal computer service parts differently with different process maturity levels. The lack of a standardized process prevents Fujitsu from accurately forecasting demand, stabilizing inventory, and fulfilling parts shipment requests on a timely basis. Fujitsu selected the PTC Service Parts Management solution to achieve a consistent domestic and overseas planning process, centrally manage its parts inventory, and implement standard operational processes around the world.
According to a report by leading industry analyst firm the Aberdeen Group, (Service Parts Management 2013: Align Planning and Forecasting with Efficient Resolution) "the efficient management of service parts has become a strategic business operation which can drive not only operational efficiencies but also revenues and customer value." The report further states that "in order to provide increased visibility and improved alignment between forecasts and service needs, top performing organizations have implemented strategies to both automate key processes and increase collaboration amongst the overall organization and service."
"Optimizing our service parts management process will support Fujitsu's efforts to handle parts appropriately to deliver greater value to customers," said Yukihiro Taguchi, Senior Director, Repair Service Business Division, Personal System Business Unit, Fujitsu Limited. "The PTC Service Parts Management solution will enable Fujitsu to more accurately forecast inventory across our various locations, increasing our ability to quickly, flexibly, and proactively respond to customer needs and changing market demands, in addition to reducing service parts inventory."
The Aberdeen Group research cites (1) inventory visibility and (2) balancing inventory across all stocking locations as two of the biggest challenges for overall service parts management. The PTC Service Parts Management solution provides advanced parts forecasting, multi-echelon inventory optimization, and constraint-based distribution to help manufacturers manage a global service supply network and improve customer service while reducing operational cost and inventory investment.
"Visionary organizations such as Fujitsu realize that improvements in their service parts operations significantly reduces costs, improves customer satisfaction, and serves as a key building block in a comprehensive Service Lifecycle Management (SLM) strategy," said Lee Smith, Divisional Vice President and General Manager, PTC Service Lifecycle Management.
