Kinaxis® Inc., the authority in driving agility for fast, confident decision-making in a rather unpredictable world, has announced that CSR, one of the leading building products in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), has tapped Kinaxis to help drive accuracy and transparency across its entire supply chain and ultimately ensure that they are prepared for the unexpected.
What does Kinaxis bring to the partnership?
CSR is behind some of the most recognised brand names in providing building products for residential and commercial construction in Australia, including Gyprock™ plasterboard, Bradford™ Insulation, Cemintel™ fibre cement, Hebel® autoclaved aerated concrete panels, PGH™ Bricks, Monier™ rooftiles and AFS walling systems™. CSR operates low-cost manufacturing facilities and has a strong distribution network to service clients across ANZ.
The Kinaxis’ RapidResponse platform provides an innovative solution for realigning, consolidating and optimizing global supply chain activities for maximum flexibility and faster decision-making. CSR selected Kinaxis, in partnership with Argon & Co., a global management consultancy specializing in operations strategy, to transform their supply chain capability.
With over 40 current customers with operations in Australia, Kinaxis welcomes CSR as the first Australia-based corporation to join the record number of companies selecting Kinaxis for supply chain planning and optimization, which ultimately reduces waste in the supply chain.
What does the partnership mean for stakeholders?
“CSR is already a leader in sustainability efforts. Using RapidResponse to help them identify more efficient routes and delivery options for forward and reverse logistics with real-time scenario planning will cut carbon emissions more. We are excited to work with top firms, like CSR, who are committed to supply chain sustainability,” said John Sicard, CEO at Kinaxis.
“RapidResponse will be a key in our large-scale transformational change. The volatility and supply chain disruptions require an integrated view to enable quick decision-making,” said Cameron Webb, Executive General Manager, Transformation, Technology and Digital, CSR.
“Working together with CSR to achieve their transformation objectives, we bring a combination of deep technical expertise and operational experience to this engagement. Partnered with Kinaxis, we look forward to supporting CSR through this operational transformation which we believe will ultimately lead to substantial improvements in efficiency, visibility and decision-making,” commented Argon & Co. Partner ANZ David Bissett.
What is the wider industry context of this partnership?
The global business environment is increasingly volatile and unpredictable. This is due to a number of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. These factors have led to supply chain disruptions, which have had a significant impact on businesses around the world.
One of the most visible impacts of supply chain disruptions has been on the availability of goods. In some cases, goods have been unavailable altogether, while in other cases prices have skyrocketed. This has made it difficult for businesses to meet customer demand and has led to lost sales.
Another impact of supply chain disruptions has been on the cost of doing business. Businesses have had to pay higher prices for raw materials and components, which has driven up their costs. This has made it difficult for businesses to remain profitable and has led to job losses.
The volatility and supply chain disruptions in today’s global business environment are a major challenge for businesses. However, there are a number of steps that businesses can take to mitigate the impact of these challenges. These steps include:
- Diversifying their supply chains: Businesses should not rely on a single supplier for their goods and services. By diversifying their supply chains, businesses can reduce their risk of being impacted by a disruption at a single supplier.
- Investing in technology: Technology can help businesses to improve their supply chain visibility and efficiency. By investing in technology, businesses can better track their goods and materials and make more informed decisions about their supply chain.
- Working with partners: Businesses can work with their suppliers, customers, and other partners to develop contingency plans in case of a disruption. By working together, businesses can better mitigate the impact of a disruption and ensure that they continue to meet customer demand.
The volatility and supply chain disruptions in today’s global business environment are a major challenge. However, by taking steps to mitigate the impact of these challenges, businesses can continue to operate successfully.
In addition to the steps mentioned above, businesses can also take the following steps to improve their resilience to supply chain disruptions:
- Build relationships with suppliers and customers: Businesses should build strong relationships with their suppliers and customers. This will help to ensure that they have a network of support in place in case of a disruption.
- Have a plan in place: Businesses should have a plan in place to deal with supply chain disruptions. This plan should include steps to identify and mitigate risks, as well as steps to recover from disruptions.
- Be flexible: Businesses should be flexible and adaptable in their approach to supply chain management. This will help them to quickly adapt to changes in the environment.
By taking these steps, businesses can improve their resilience to supply chain disruptions and protect their bottom line.
Gerald Ainomugisha is a business news reporter and freelance B2B marketer with over 10 years of experience in writing high-converting copy and content for businesses of all kinds, especially SaaS providers in the niches of HR, IT, fintech, eCommerce and web3.
