NCR has come a long way from it days in the cash-register business. Today, the company offers an extensive line of financial products for business, including automated teller machines, point-of-sale terminals and self-checkout devices. It has also branched into travel kiosks and self-check-in machines for airlines and the hospitality industry. Together those devices generate some 300 million transactions a day.

As the company expanded, it faced the mounting challenge of linking manufacturing with the extended supply chain, says Pearson. NCR's network includes six plants across the globe, two customer-fulfillment centers and a number of contract manufacturers.

The company had multiple material-requirements planning (MRP) systems deployed across those plants. It was looking for a platform that could serve as the single source of data for all locations.

Such a capability becomes even more important as NCR's market grows increasingly volatile. Customers' needs change on a daily basis, says Pearson. In particular, the company was struggling with accurate and agile supply planning. A sudden change in order level or delivery date, for example, could be tough to manage. "We need to respond fast," says Pearson. "The same day, if possible."

Working with Kinaxis, NCR now can conduct a series of "what-if" scenarios which allow it to anticipate unforeseen changes. "Knowing the outcome of a demand plan before you actually push the button is key," says Pearson.

NCR's next goal is to improve customer service. It's in the early stages of collaborating with upstream suppliers, says Pearson.

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Keywords: supply chain, supply chain management, high-tech supply chain, inventory management, inventory control, supply chain planning, sourcing solutions