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Dentsply - Part 1

Strategic Supply Chain Review

Dentsply is the world's largest dental products manufacturer, distributing in over 100 countries

The Challenge

• The world-wide supply chain was a source of continual customer service failure. Costs were 40% over the benchmark.
• The European operation was experiencing over 30% service failures and an inability to locate stock leading to very low levels of customer satisfaction and increased costs.
• ProActive [Weir] were aware of a series of operational crises that were threatening the multitude of factory warehouses in Europe.

The ProActive [Weir] Approach

• ProActive [Weir] devised a European Supply Chain Strategy document to interface with the US production strategy and the worldwide sourcing strategy.
• The model included a Transport Programme for the 3 European operations to reduce the 17 factory and local warehouses to 3 central stockholding points all with state of the art information and operational systems.
• Outsourced and re-tendered all distribution requirements over 5 years.
• The team also developed a customer service model to enable maximisation of benefits from the revised supply chain.

The Results

• On time and in full deliveries improved by 99%.
• Availability of total stock range improved by 99%.
• 37% reduction in inventory value.
• 17 factory and local warehouses reduced to 3 central stockholding points.
• Physical logistic spend reduced by 26%.

"The Supply Chain review has identified the optimum solution and a clear step by step implementation plan to achieve our ultimate goals in each market sector".

Director of Operations

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Dentsply - Part 2

Warehouse Crisis Aversion

The Challenge

• The European operation was experiencing over 30% service failures and an inability to locate stock leading to very low levels of customer satisfaction and increased costs.
• ProActive [Weir] were already engaged in a strategic review, and additionally mobilised a crisis aversion team when the operation was clearly in danger of "falling over".

The ProActive [Weir] Approach

• Having established a series of essential KPI's, the management team were made aware of a pending disaster as the Christmas peak approached.
• ProActive [Weir] immediately set up a 'Crisis Aversion and Operational Excellence' team. 20 skilled operatives (multi-lingual) and a project manager were drafted in to clear the backlog of shipments and achieve operational turnaround within 7 days.
• The team optimised layout, handling and throughput to enable ongoing stability to remain after departure.

The Results

• Stable operations were resumed within 7 days; Order backlog cleared, bottlenecks removed.
• Existing team brought along and kept on side to enable skills transfer.

"The ProActive [Weir] team certainly averted a major meltdown of our distribution operation - it was a very impressive recovery and left us in a strong position to move forwards".

Director of Operations