For details about the benefits and capabilities of SAP Manufacturing, check out the following information:

Overview

• "SAP Manufacturing" (PDF, 151 KB) – Learn how companies can use the SAP Manufacturing solution to respond quickly to meet customer needs and increase profits by reducing time to market through SAP world-class solutions in supply chain management, product lifecycle management, customer relationship management, and more.

Statement of Direction

• "SAP Manufacturing Statement of Direction 2005" (PDF, 207 KB) – Explore SAP's three-year road map for the vision, strategy, development, investments, and commitment for SAP Manufacturing in three areas – operations, integration, and intelligence – and its future role in SAP's overall solution portfolio. Log-in required.

Solution Briefs

• "Adaptive Manufacturing: Enabling the Lean Six Sigma Enterprise" (PDF, 178 KB) – Explore how SAP Manufacturing gives you adaptability to successfully combine lean manufacturing principles with those of Six Sigma by managing fragmented supply environments and responding competitively to volatile demand fluctuations.
• "SAP Manufacturing – Manufacturing Intelligence Dashboards" (PDF, 78 KB) – Examine how the SAP Manufacturing solution offers intelligence dashboards that provide the visibility that production employees need to rapidly respond to changes in demand or supply and run manufacturing processes at the speed of business.

White Papers

• "Adaptive Business Networks: A Strategy For Mastering Change And Efficiency In Manufacturing" (PDF, 223 KB) – See how SAP can help you use adaptive business networks as an effective strategy to introduce new products that meet customer needs, respond faster to supply chain signals, and optimize profit during order fulfillment. Log-in required.
• "Adaptive Manufacturing: Enabling the Lean-Six Sigma Enterprise" (PDF, 255 KB) – Explore how to incorporate adaptive manufacturing processes in conjunction with Six Sigma Lean. The paper identifies the key processes and capabilities required for success and highlights SAP's capability in enabling these processes. Log-in required.
• "Manufacturing Strategy: An Adaptive Perspective" (PDF, 137 KB) – Explore how SAP integrated solutions can help businesses compete effectively by enabling fast, flexible manufacturing processes that connect supply chains to factory processes, systems, and production equipment in a seamless, customer-centric network. Log-in required.
• "Pricing and Revenue Optimization: A Manufacturing Perspective" (PDF, 251 KB) – Discover how SAP can support you in cost-effectively managing pricing and revenue optimization as an end-to-end, closed-loop process monitored across three time-phased stages – strategic pricing, tactical pricing, and execution pricing. Log-in required.
• "Technology and the Lean Enterprise" (PDF, 233 KB) – Examine why manufacturers are looking for the right technology to mount lean initiatives by eliminating waste and non value-added activities. Read case studies of six enterprises that use SAP software to achieve continuous improvement and eliminate waste from operations. Log-in required.

Analyst Reports and Related Information

• "Best Practices in Lean" (PDF, 1.1 MB) – See how these manufacturers' Lean programs have driven and continue to drive significant improvements in manufacturing performance, customer responsiveness, and financial results. Aberdeen Group (2005) Log-in required.
• "Building the Lean Extended Enterprise through Adaptive Supply Chain Networks" (PDF, 1.3 MB) – Learn about specific actions that companies can take to achieve the benefits of the extended lean enterprise. Center for Excellence in Operations (2004) Log-in required.
• "Enhancing Lean Practices: Lean Adoption in the Industrial Machinery and Components Industry" (PDF, 531 KB) – With pressure mounting to improve operational performance while meeting escalating customer requirements, companies are adopting lean techniques in manufacturing plants and lean strategies in executive suites. Aberdeen Group (2006) Log-in required.
• "SAP's Lean Capability - It's in There" (PDF, 71 KB) – Read about SAP's specific lean functionality and how to put it to use – SAP has more capability in supporting the automation of lean manufacturing than many think. Manufacturing Insights (2005) Log-in required.
• "The Lean Strategies Benchmark Report: Manufacturing Excellence Moves to the Value Chain" (PDF, 646 KB) – Read how "lean" has become the mantra for making manufacturing competitive in many industrial and consumer-oriented markets – from aerospace to automotive to consumer durables. Aberdeen Group (2004). Log-in required.
• "Winning with Global Manufacturing Networks" (PDF, 790 KB) – See how globalization can enable you to achieve lower-cost manufacturing capabilities, improve customer responsiveness, and enter new markets. Aberdeen Group (2005) Log-in required.
• "World Class Manufacturing Report 2005" (PDF, 2.1 MB) – Read the results of recent industry research on the current understanding of lean manufacturing principles by U.S. manufacturers, their use of lean processes, the perceived business drivers, as well as lessons learned and future plans. The Manufacturer (2005) Log-in required.