Global 24x7 operations, outsourcing, complex supply networks, shorter product lifecycles and ‘Just-in-Time’ procurement characterize today’s extended operations models. These models have enabled cost reduction and increases in customer satisfaction over the last decade. The benefits came at the expense of making operations more costly to manage and more vulnerable to disruptions such as supplier failures, shipping losses, or sales spikes.
ERP systems have been instrumental in enabling global operations. At the same time they, too, have become increasingly complex and costly to manage. Still, many ERP systems have not been fully able to increase responsiveness and flexibility in global operations. They tend to be transaction focused and only provide performance reporting metrics, which by their very nature are backwards looking.
Performance Assurance by Westernacher is a paradigm for operations that overcomes organizational constraints and provides a practical way to enable real-time management practices:
- Detecting adverse trends early by monitoring important processes, events, and transactions real-time
- Resolving problems quickly using real-time, corrective-action processes
- Incorporating continuous process improvements
The overall goal of these efforts is to reduce latency, increase response time and minimize risk. To get more detailed information have a look at:
