Dow earns Progressive Manufacturing 100 award

The Dow Chemical Company has received the 2011 Progressive Manufacturing 100 (PM100) award in Supply Chain Mastery for developing and applying advanced Design & Modify Supply Chain (D&MSC) work processes.

The Dow Chemical Company has received the 2011 Progressive Manufacturing 100 (PM100) award in Supply Chain Mastery for developing and applying advanced Design & Modify Supply Chain (D&MSC) work processes.

This marks the fifth time in three years Dow has earned a PM100 award, which is sponsored by Manufacturing Enterprise Communications ? publishers of Managing Automation magazine. Dow chartered the D&MSC project to drive and accelerate value across Dow?s operations ? from plant projects and network optimization to feasibility studies and Mergers and Acquisitions.

"We are honored to be recognized for implementing a global work process that is optimizing supply chain networks across Dow and proving its value in every region," said Kevin Hunter, supply chain design leader. "In the 2009-2010 period alone, D&MSC solutions have enabled Dow to realize millions of dollars in cost savings globally, while also improving customer service and sustainability ? all of which are critical to competitive advantage."

A few examples of D&MSC success include a North America-Pacific network study to optimize tank usage in the Pacific area for multiple products ? reducing GHG emissions while enhancing service levels; a global network study to improve freight and duty savings, plant capacity, and sourcing; a tank-sizing study to enhance the efficiency of product storage; and a European warehouse synergy study that ? after a major acquisition ? led to consolidated shipments and improved freight and warehousing savings.

"D&MSC aligns to our corporate strategy to drive financial discipline, growth, performance and sustainability, and is now a best practice that we are leveraging across all supply chains at Dow," said Darrell Zavitz, vice president of Supply Chain. ?We are proud of our world-class team of experts for their creativity and dedication, and excited about the value that D&MSC will continue to deliver to the company.?

Open to project nominations from around the world and judged by an independent panel, the PM100 awards are given to manufacturing companies for projects that improve competitiveness and demonstrate mastery of one of eight disciplines: supply network, business models, customers, data and integration, innovation, education and training, operational excellence and leadership.