Outokumpu Rolls Out Quintiq's Supply Chain Optimization Platform at Avesta Rolling Mill

AsiaNet 52952

S'-HERTOGENBOSCH, The Netherlands, May 8, 2013 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

    Global leader in stainless steel continues to trust Quintiq to reduce costs

and improve production processes

    Quintiq, [http://www.quintiq.com ] a global leader in supply chain planning

and optimization (SCP&O), announced today that its platform is being rolled out

at the Outokumpu Stainless AB

[http://www.outokumpu.com/en/AboutUs/Pages/new-Outokumpu.aspx ] in Avesta,

Sweden to support the scheduling of cold flow operations. The project will be

completed by the end of 2013, and Outokumpu's cold flow area, which produces

stainless steel coils and sheets, will experience tangible benefits immediately

upon completion.

    (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130328/606756 )

    Outokumpu is the biggest stainless steel producer worldwide and its Avesta

Plant houses cold flow operations including annealing, pickling and cold

rolling facilities. To meet an increasing demand for better product properties

and tighter process tolerances, Quintiq was approached to recommend a solution

to optimize Outokumpu's complex production challenges. Over the course of a

three-day demonstration that tackled the plant's most intricate planning

puzzles in the cold flow area, the Quintiq team established the business

benefits that its SCP&O platform would yield, and how optimization would raise

the internal visibility of supply chain procedures.

    In addition to minimizing the percentage of product reworks and reducing

costs in the production process, other positive impacts of Quintiq's platform

for Outokumpu will include a reduction in lead-times and lower inventory

levels. Reduced lead times will have a positive impact on customer

satisfaction. Reduced inventory will have positive impacts on capital costs.

    "We have had experience working with Quintiq from previous projects. They

have knowledgeable staff and a robust working method that secures the

achievement of the project goals," said Gunnar Meller, Outokumpu VP of Supply

Chain, Special Coil. "We intend to use the software for building a platform

that facilitates continuous improvement of our deliveries."

    "This is the fourth project we've undertaken with Outokumpu," said Francois

Eijgelshoven, Quintiq VP of EMEA. "Quintiq's platforms are an excellent match

for the complex production processes of the steel industry. Outokumpu

recognizes the business benefits that result from optimizing their supply

chain, and we're delighted to have the opportunity to continue the

relationship."

    About Quintiq

    Quintiq's revolutionary supply chain planning and optimization

[http://www.quintiq.com/solutions/supply-chain-planning.aspx ] (SCP&O) platform

enables enterprises to improve efficiency at every stage of the supply chain

journey. It powers end-to-end planning and optimization of personnel

[http://www.quintiq.com/solutions/employee-planning-and-scheduling.aspx ],

resources, and processes in a single planning environment, across all planning

horizons. Many of the world's largest and most successful enterprises rely on

Quintiq to achieve their business goals, strengthen their competitive

advantage, and create new revenue streams.

    Established in 1997 and growing rapidly, Quintiq has a global presence with

dual headquarters in the Netherlands and the USA, a global development center

in Malaysia, and offices around the world. Quintiq's software is in use at over

500 locations in 78 countries worldwide.

    For more information, visit http://www.quintiq.com or follow Quintiq on

Twitter [https://twitter.com/Quintiq ], Facebook

[https://www.facebook.com/Quintiq ], LinkedIn

[http://www.linkedin.com/company/quintiq ] and YouTube

[http://www.youtube.com/user/channelquintiq ].

    Press Contacts:

    North America Enquiries: Jon Temerlies, Racepoint Group, Tel:

+1-202-349-0859, Quintiq@Racepointgroup.com

    EMEA Enquiries: Charlotte Poh, Global Marketing Communication Manager, Tel:

+31-(0)736910739, pressrelease@quintiq.com

SOURCE: Quintiq