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| Client Success > Downstream Manufacturing Industries |
Client Successes: Downstream Manufacturing Industry |
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Client Type:
Major producer of aluminum beverage can bodies and can ends
Service Provided:
Manufacturing strategy, manufacturing and supply chain
Client Need:
Develop manufacturing strategy focused on improving competitive positioning to halt further erosion of client’s market share and margins.
Kline Solution:
The management cnsulting team developed thorough manufacturing benchmarks of key competitors. Including site-specific assessments of technologies practiced, manning structure, use of vendors, outsourcing, and manufacturing cost structures. This market analysis yielded comprehensive technology and manufacturing cost detail which allowed us to evaluate the client’s strengths and shortcomings, define the business implications, and closely collaborate with our client in the development and implementation of an effective manufacturing strategy.
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| "Based upon Kline’s analysis and recommendations, specific actions were taken to reduce manning levels, improve supply chain efficiencies and restructure manufacturing operations." |
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Client Type:
Leading global supplier of engineered laminates
Service Provided:
Site-specific competitive manufacturing assessment
Client Need:
Frame a new value-based management (VBM) program by developing an understanding of the degree of participation and profitability of each competitor in plastic-clad metal tapes.
Kline Solution:
Kline's management consulting associates conducted rigorous, site-specific competitive manufacturing assessments of select suppliers of engineered laminates. The deliverables of the engagement served as the key input for the client to develop a future strategy for its business and allowed us to model specific competitive responses, based on certain variants and key uncertainties.
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| “Kline recommended a price increase based on their findings that the leading competitor was under pressure to meet the corporate EVA target. The resulting benefit was several-fold return on our investment in the Kline program.” |
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Client Type:
A major battery manufacturer
Service Provided:
Competitive technology benchmarking
Client Need:
To understand the viability of several new competitor patents and status of the commercialization of new technologies.
Kline Solution:
Kline's management consulting team evaluated the manufacturing processes required to practice new technology, and the critical issues that needed to be resolved before such technology could be implemented in a commercial operation.
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| “Kline’s perspective, which was well supported, was that the impact of the threat posed by the competitive technology was not likely to occur for the next five years, allowing us sufficient time to develop an effective response.” |
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Client Type:
Leading global tire manufacturer
Service Provided:
Cost benchmarking
Client Need:
A detailed competitive analysis of its conversion costs versus select competitors in passenger, truck/bus, and off-the-road tire manufacturing in preparation for upcoming union negotiations.
Kline Solution:
Kline's management consulting team developed a rigorous program of primary research and analysis focused on developing detailed information on myriad labor issues, such as manning levels by activity, labor productivity, wages and benefits, vacation policies, holidays, overtime practices, outsourcing of services, absenteeism, team concepts, and community relations and the resultant impact on cost.
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| “The results of the Kline program were used to set and achieve higher productivity levels and also to obtain concessions in the upcoming union contract negotiations.” |
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Client Type:
A leading producer of a critical component in automotive emission control systems
Service Provided:
Strategy development and competitive benchmarking
Client Need:
Formulate a decisive manufacturing strategy and competitive response to face a formidable competitor that was positioning it to capture a greater share of the growing market for such systems.
Kline Solution:
Kline's management consulting associates created a global engagement, spanning five countries, to determine the likelihood that the competitor would implement specific publicly announced initiatives and achieve its strategic objectives, all of which were focused on eroding our client’s position. Key aspects of the engagement included a comprehensive assessment of the competitor’s manufacturing strategy, current manufacturing costs and cost reduction plans, investment plans, and process/technology position, as well as the consistency of its actions with its announced direction and intentions.
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| “The results confirmed that our competitive position was vulnerable in some regions and action plans were identified to minimize the competitive threat.” |
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Client Type:
A significant producer of specialty batteries
Service Provided:
Portfolio diagnostic, strategy development
Client Need:
An objective strategic assesement as to the sustainability of its business, which with numerous SKUs, was faced with declining market share, production problems and shrinking margins.
Kline Solution:
Our management consulting team conducted a thorough diagnostic to understand our client’s current and likely future competitiveness with respect to manufacturing cost, market position, breadth of product line versus key competitors; developed and evaluated various strategic options and tactics including the use of low-cost packaging, investment in the operations to reduce production costs, outsource manufacturing, and reduction in SKUs, as well as potentially exiting the business.
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| “A short-term decision map and timeframe was developed and implemented to guide our choices.” |
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Client Type:
A leading producer of one-time-use, recyclable consumer products
Service Provided: Comprehensive competitive analysis
Client Need:
A clear and objective perspective as to the true magnitude of the competitive threat posed by an Asia-based producer.
Kline Solution:
Kline's management consulting group conducted a comprehensive program that began with a detailed analysis of competitor’s product platform, which was founded on leveraging practices that resulted in longer life and a greatly simplified manufacturing process. We delivered a detailed assessment of the competitor’s first time unit manufacturing process and costs, recycling practices, and recycled unit manufacturing.
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| “Kline’s comprehensive assessment identified the substantial benefits our client was able to realize by leveraging a common product design platform across multiple SKUs, which was further enhanced by their investment in automation.” |
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