Steelmaker upgrades i2 supply chain software

Steelmaker SSAB’s plate division is to upgrade its use of i2 supply chain solutions and migrate to the i2 Agile Business Process Platform.

The plate division of SSAB , a producer of heavy steel plate, is to upgrade its use of i2 supply chain solutions and move to the i2 Agile Business Process Platform The i2 Technologies company reported that SSAB successfully uses i2 software for forecasting, planning and order management capabilities.

These drive supply chain efficiency and visibility across the extended network, enhances customer service and improves cash flow.

Moving this software to the i2 Agile Business Process Platform offers SSAB the opportunity to provide enhanced ease of use, business process and workflow management, said i2.

The i2 Agile Business Process Platform allows companies to respond faster to changes in market conditions by enabling planning via rapid feedback of execution into the process.

The i2 Agile Business Process Platform features supply chain data management, staging and integration, an enhanced studio for an integrated development, testing and deployment environment, and an expanded collection of best practices and supply chain workflows.

The platform provides a foundation for speed, reactivity and flexibility through service-oriented architecture (SOA) principles.

ROCE Partners, an authorised distributor of i2 software, is the prime contractor for the delivery of the upgrade.

ROCE Partners will take responsibility for the resources for the upgrade and project management.

The project management includes planning, coordinating, executing, reporting and following up steering group meetings; and coordinating ROCE and i2 resources and solutions.

Additionally, ROCE will also assist in coordination of SSAB project management activities.

Manager Quality, Planning and Service, Marketing Department, SSAB Plate Division, Mats Carlsson, said: "With this upgrade, SSAB Plate Division will ensure stability on a very important part in our order fulfilment process and also gain some advantages of new functionality".

Vice president of Metals Solutions at i2, Michael Hilbrich, said: "SSAB has been an innovative and successful user of the i2 metals solutions for many years.

It’s really encouraging to see them taking the solution to the next level.

We look forward to continuing to work with SSAB on their journey toward supply chain excellence".

* About SSAB Plate Division – SSAB Plate Division is a member of the SSAB Swedish Steel Group and is the largest Nordic manufacturer of heavy steel plate.

The company is also a world leader in the specialist field of quenched and tempered steels, and produces products such as Hardox and Weldox.

SSAB Plate Division is the only steelworks in Sweden to have an integrated iron and steel plant.

The company produces around 586 000 tonnes of heavy plate (2006), and 90% of production is exported.

SSAB has extensive stocks in more than 40 countries around the world and profits for 2006 totalled SEK 2,193 million.

* About i2 – throughout its 20-year history of innovation and value delivery, i2 has dedicated itself to building successful customer partnerships.

As a full-service supply chain company, i2 is uniquely positioned to help its clients achieve world-class business results through a combination of consulting, technology, and managed services.

i2 solutions are pervasive in a wide cross-section of industries; 20 of the AMR Research Top 25 Global Supply Chains belong to i2 customers.

* About ROCE Partners – ROCE Partners is the leading supply chain management consulting company in the Nordics.

ROCE Partners’ mission is to maximize clients’ Return on Capital Employed by integrating and optimizing their supply chains from suppliers to end customers.

Offices are located in Stockholm, Sweden, and in Helsinki and Tampere in Finland.