SmartOps offers free APQC best practices report

SmartOps Corporation, a provider of enterprise-class inventory optimization solutions, including its Multistage Inventory Planning and Optimization (MIPO) application, is offering exclusive access to an in-depth best practices study on inventory optimization conducted by APQC, the leading independent, non-profit provider of financial and value chain benchmarking and research, and the originator of the Malcolm Baldrige standards and award.

"Inventory Optimization: Balancing the Asset versus Service Tradeoff" examines the ways that companies are responding to conflicting mandates to reduce investments in inventory while still supporting marketing, manufacturing and customer service objectives. The study involved a research group consisting of APQC partner organizations representing a broad sampling of industries and organization sizes. Two of the five best-practice partners identified in the report are SmartOps customers - Cardinal Health and Deere & Company. Both use SmartOps MIPO solution as part of their inventory optimization processes.

Currently, the report is available exclusively from SmartOps at http://www.smartops.com/program/prapqc.

"Companies are continuously pressured to reduce their investments in inventory, facilities, and equipment assets," says APQC's Cheryl Harrity, practice leader, supply chain. "At the same time, they must increase cost effectiveness and maintain a high level of customer service. The challenge is finding the optimum quantity and positioning of inventory in the right network to meet demand."