Belmont, Massachusset
February 25, 2004
Demand forecasting, plznning and inventory
optimization system operational within three weeks
Smart Software today
announced that Monsanto
Company (NYSE: MON) has selected the SmartForecasts(TM)
Enterprise demand forecasting, planning and inventory
optimization system to improve inventory and production
management in its approximately $2 billion Seed and Genomics
business segment. SmartForecasts is integrated with Monsanto's
Oracle database which stores demand data and forecast results
and shares information with several of the company's planning
systems. The purchase is part of Monsanto's Six Sigma effort to
improve core company operations. Monsanto plans to improve
forecasting accuracy and optimize safety stock levels with the
help of SmartForecasts.
Additionally, Monsanto will use SmartForecasts to help it
develop long-range production plans and forecast crop yields, as
well as produce in-season sales and production forecasts.
After
evaluating a number of systems, Monsanto's Seed and Genomics
business chose SmartForecasts, because it satisfied many of the
company's selection criteria. According to Jim Most, Global Seed
Supply Process Improvement Manager, Monsanto was looking for a
forecasting system that was easy to use, would gain quick
acceptance by selected users, and eliminate the overhead
expenses normally associated with ERP forecasting modules and
other demand planning systems.
"To meet
our goals, we need to have acceptance of statistical forecasting
as a key part of our planning process," said Most. "It is
critical that we are able to cut through the noise, observe
demand patterns, and understand our product mix better. Our old
system didn't have the power to do that. SmartForecasts does.
Its Excel-like user interface will also facilitate transition
from our former Excel-based forecasting process."
Monsanto
also wanted a system that was easy to implement. SmartForecasts'
universal database connectivity and Database Wizards simplify
the implementation process and enable companies like Monsanto to
easily integrate SmartForecasts with their Oracle, SQL Server or
IBM DB2 corporate database.
"The
startup went very smoothly," according to Most. "From the time
we received SmartForecasts until we started doing real,
productive work was only three weeks. So far, SmartForecasts is
doing everything we expected of it."
Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Monsanto is
a $4.5 billion Fortune 500 provider of agricultural products and
solutions. The company's Seed and Genomics segment produces
leading seed brands, including DEKALB and Asgrow, and develops
biotechnology traits that integrate insect control and weed
control into the seed itself.
Founded in 1984, Smart Software, Inc. is a leader
in providing businesses with enterprise-wide demand forecasting,
planning and inventory optimization solutions. Smart Software's
flagship product, SmartForecasts, has thousands of customers
worldwide, including mid-market enterprises and Fortune 500
companies, such as Mitsubishi, Siemens, Labatt Breweries,
Coca-Cola and Bristol-Myers Squibb. SmartForecasts gives demand
planners the tools to handle sales seasonality, promotions, new
and aging products, multi-dimensional hierarchies, and
intermittently demanded service parts and capital goods items.
It also provides inventory managers with accurate estimates of
the minimum inventory and safety stock required to meet future
orders, thereby ensuring the most cost-effective inventory
allocation to achieve desired service levels.
SmartForecasts is a trademark of Smart Software,
Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners. |