CAST wins software audition
February 1st 2011

Barloworld develops supply chain modelling software in a bid to help firms better manage costs, service levels and carbon emissions

Barloworld Supply Chain Software (SCS) has developed a suite of supply chain planning software solutions, including supply chain modelling product CAST, which is designed to help companies save money and improve service levels by evaluating supply chain strategies.

In addition, Barloworld SCS has used these tools with a number of companies on projects designed to analyse and reduce carbon emissions.

Designing an ideal supply chain network requires increasingly sophisticated modelling solutions able to cope with the challenges that companies face on a global scale, says the firm.

Fraser Ironside, head of strategic modelling at Barloworld SCS explains: "The supply chain is an important area where companies can reduce their carbon footprint, but the bottom line is that over 80% of this target is only achievable at the supply chain design stage." CAST is said to be a flexible tool and allows companies to model specific parts of a supply chain, for example demand modelling alone or, alternatively, all elements of a global supply chain can be considered within one model. Fixed business constraints can be integrated with optimisation methods to produce outcomes that are both customised and cost minimised to specific business criteria.

"More logistics networks are taking advantage of savings made possible through effective supply chain modelling," adds Ironside.

"Every supply chain challenge faced has a number of solutions, but only a few of these solutions will be effective, and this depends on the specific business requirements. Teamed with our unique methodology, our specialist network modelling software, CAST, allows businesses to identify the right strategic path." Retailers are also using CAST to design supply chains for overseas market expansion, home delivery networks and to evaluate alternative and collaborative sourcing strategies.

"Globalisation brings greater complexity to a business, which heightens the need for software capable of considering all components of the supply chain," explains Ironside.

Retailers can deploy CAST to identify optimal distribution infrastructures for their national supply chain networks, particularly as they expand product ranges, store configurations and respond to changing demands and costs.

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