Complexity Management
Tackling the Sources and Costs of Product Complexity at Global Cosmetics Products Company
Identified the sources and cost impacts of product complexity for a billion dollar manufacturer of cosmetic products. Initiatives included product simplification and harmonization (including packaging simplification), and optimization of the product launch process via cross-functional communication and use of packaging pallets. Significant savings $38-$40MM were discovered and worldwide rollout is expected after initial successes in the US and Europe.
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Developing Segmented Operations and Service Strategy at Full-line Industrial Goods Manufacturer
Devised an approach for segmenting SKUs in a diverse SKU environment based on a several qualitative factors such as contractual customer requirements, marketing strategy, and sourcing considerations, and a statistical scoring methodology incorporating several demand pattern factors such as sales, margin, demand variability, demand frequency, broken shipments, and requirements of top customers. Devised and implemented differentiated operations and service strategy (make-to-stock vs. manufacture-to-order) for the SKU segments which contributed to an 28% improvement in on-time delivery and a 25% reduction in inventory.
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Rapid Inventory and Supply Chain Cost Structure Diagnostic at Niche Apparel Producer
Conducted an inventory and cost structure diagnostic and created a plan for capture of opportunities at a recently acquired private equity portfolio company. Identified $11+MM in inventory reduction, $1.2–1.9+MM in overhead expense reduction, and $0.4–1.2MM in freight cost reduction opportunities.
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Establishing Operation End-vision for a Fast-growing, Entrepreneurial Climate Control Product Manufacturer
Conducted a 3-week operations diagnostic to establish an end-vision for optimizing the clients’s manufacturing, supply chain, and engineering operations. Gotham developed a solid fact base of the client’s operations, including demand patterns, inventory, labor efficiency, product complexity, and cost structure. Working with management, Gotham created an end-vision to transform operations and generate both real bottom line benefits – 600bp EBITDA improvement, 20-30% reduction in inventory, and 30% reduction in the plant footprint – and capability enhancements (faster speed to market, improved quality, etc.) that will allow the client to capture market opportunities and drive future growth. The company’s board wholeheartedly backed this end-vision and asked Gotham to help accelerate capture of these opportunities.
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Quick-win Engineering and Material Cost Reductions at International Custom Machine Tools Designer and Manufacturer
Conducted 4-week diagnostic to understand drivers of ongoing margin erosion (~10% point gap between quoted margin vs. realized margin) that identified $1.7-2.7MM in quick-win cost savings opportunities in 3 key areas: robust, cross-functional quoting and engineering processes with formal involvement of engineering in the quoting process and proactive management of hours/scope in the engineering process; material spend reduction by implementing cost-focused (vs. “get the parts in”) purchasing process/tools, renegotiating/ establishing contracts with key vendors, and standardizing parts to leverage volume; and selective migration of engineering to India, starting with detailed engineering and phasing in higher skill activities. Execution assistance included: creating vendor negotiation strategy and vendor packages for top vendors (6-20% savings already realized); crafting quoting and engineering process end-vision; and developing a detailed capture plan with timeline for all targeted savings.
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SKU, Pricing, Mix, and Placement Rationalization at Large Catalog Company
Led effort to optimize 45,000 active SKU assortment, which yielded ~$7MM in cost savings. Reclassified 45,000 SKUs into approximately 500 classes of merchandise to align with how merchandisers thought about products. Developed reporting to review performance over time, by price point, by occasion, by performance, etc. Optimized assortment by class to eliminate poor-performing items and reduce cannibalization. Adjusted pricing to ensure competitive pricing and proper mix by price point. Determined most efficient catalog and web placement.
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