NetApp
The Results Speak for Themselves
NetApp has been able to substantially reduce the average time it takes to process a customer order. Orders are now scheduled by RapidResponse within minutes of order entry versus the prior goal of manually scheduling orders within 24 hours of receipt. RapidResponse allows 95% of orders that are sourced and scheduled to be done so without manual intervention. RapidResponse has allowed planning and scheduling personnel to adopt a more strategic monitoring mode. The planners are able to manage by exception and address the true underlying issues of the moment. This has resulted in improved production efficiencies and reduced planning cycle times.

Network Appliance (NetApp) Responds Rapidly to Global Changes by Implementing Kinaxis™ RapidResponse™

Network Appliance, Inc. (NetApp) is a world leader in unified storage solutions for today's data-intensive enterprise. Since its inception in 1992, Network Appliance has pioneered technology, product, and partner firsts that continue to drive "The evolution of storage™". NetApp® storage solutions include specialized hardware, software, and services, providing seamless storage management for open network environments. Major corporations and service providers, including Citicorp Securities, Lockheed, Merrill Lynch, Oracle, Texas Instruments, and Yahoo!, utilize NetApp global data management solutions.

The NetApp Challenge

NetApp must rapidly anticipate and adapt to changing conditions in the complex global environment. In 2000, during a period of rapid growth, NetApp found itself with a number of disparate systems and processes that could not efficiently scale to support the growing demands of an international corporation. NetApp required visibility across the company in order to automate the scheduling and manage the varying impact of changes in customer demand.

The ability for real-time global visibility was critical in order to proactively respond to changes in supply, demand, product and capacity. NetApp turned to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) LLP (now a part of IBM Global Services) to help determine the best solution to fit these requirements.

The Kinaxis Advantage

NetApp recognized an opportunity to improve efficiency and establish an infrastructure that would solve their immediate problems and provide long-term scalability. NetApp found that Kinaxis™ RapidResponse™ had the unique architecture to continue allowing NetApp to use JD Edwards as their enterprise resource planning (ERP) system (NetApp has since switched to Oracle ERP) while enhancing their manufacturing operations. RapidResponse was introduced because it could deliver unique functionality unavailable in the ERP vendors' advanced planning and scheduling (APS) systems.

Using RapidResponse, a solution was developed that takes a unique combination of information and business rules to determine where an order should be sourced and the appropriate delivery and build schedules for all steps in the supply chain. Real-time, closed-loop integration with the Oracle ERP system ensures complete automation and rapid response. Because the business rules are unique to NetApp, the solution could not be found in a standard application. The flexibility and extensibility of RapidResponse made it possible to deliver the solution faster and more cost effectively than with the alternatives.

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