operations flexibility in process industries - Roland Berger Strategy ...

Participants of this study confirm the relevance of flexibility –however systematic transfer into their operations strategy is rareFlexibility objectives and operations strategyASSESSMENTS ON OPERATIONS FLEXIBILITYDo you perceive operations flexibility as one of yourtop 5 priorities?89%yes11%Do you systematically define strategic measures toachieve this objectives?56%no44%Beverage producer, Production manager"… operations flexibility is very importantin our capital intensive industry…"Specialty chemicals company, COO"… flexibility is much more economicalthan investing in forecastingexcellence … we had to learn it thehard way…"Speciality chemicals company,Head of Strategic Planning"Operations flexibility is soinevitably important. It would befoolish if we left it to chance."Pharma and Chemicals Group,Head of Business development"Definitely, flexibility is among ourstrategic goals. We would soon beout of the market if we would notconstantly try to react as flexibly aspossible."Consumer Care company; Managermanufacturing"Only when we felt the strong market pushand had to quickly boost our output did werecognize significant hidden flexibilitybuffers; in one plant we where able toincrease output by 15% without anyinvestments"yesnoPharmaceutical producer, Head of Operations"We do build in flexibility but it is rather a functionalresponsibility than a systematic corporate approach"Source: Roland Berger interviews, 200811