KYOCERA MITA creates a pan-European Supply Chain

This is a significant step in the transformation of KYOCERA MITA Europe’s supply chain from being country-centric to being truly pan-European. The transformation will enable KYOCERA MITA to plan the supply and delivery of its products to its European customers centrally, improving product availability and providing more dependable order fulfillment lead times.

The new supply chain strategy and its implementation has been facilitated through IBM. IBM was appointed by KYOCERA MITA both to jointly select its partner for a new European logistics contract, and to drive its planning and execution with KYOCERA MITA Europe's new pan-European logistics services provider, DHL.

KYOCERA MITA Europe focused on business innovation in following areas:
• SCM (Supply Chain Management): procuring parts, manufacturing products and delivering them to customers
• Product development: understanding customers’ needs quickly and developing products to meet these needs
• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): delivering products and service to customers, sending information to customers and collecting customers’ feedback
• IT Systems: providing IT support to KYOCERA MITA Europe

As part of the improvement of its SCM, KYOCERA MITA Europe chose DHL as its logistics partner. Currently, more than 14,000 printers, multifunctional products (MFPs) and consumables leave the new 25,000 m2 EDC warehouse every day. The products are stored, handled and distributed in multiple ways: directly to customers; to Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs); or to other logistics partners that collect products from the EDC. The customers benefit from significantly shortened product delivery times and increased product availability.

In addition to the EDC, DHL established Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) in order to guarantee quick delivery to KYOCERA MITA’S customers across Europe. The RDCs are located in: Milan, covering Italy (consumables only); London, covering the UK and Ireland; Madrid, covering Spain and Portugal; and Copenhagen, covering all the Nordic countries (planned for 2nd half of 2007). Customers in the Middle East and South Africa are served by local warehouses.

In the past, local logistics centres received the customer orders and distributed the products to the customers. The orders received at the local warehouses were sent to Hoofddorp, the Netherlands or even to Japan. The products were sent from there to the local logistics centres and then to the customers. Now customers will still contact their local branch, but the products will be sent directly from the EDC or the RDC to the customer.

“Handling orders centrally at the EDC streamlines the distribution process,” said Wolfgang Goldenberg, Senior Manager Logistics Operations Management at KYOCERA MITA Europe. “We are constantly looking to improve the quality of service we offer our customers and are pleased to be able to offer shorter delivery times and an increased availability of products.”

“We’ve been working together with KYOCERA MITA for a number of years and are very happy to be able to expand our partnership”, said Ad van Beurden, Business Director of Technology at DHL. We are delighted that our integrated and comprehensive supply chain management services will make a tangible contribution to the improvement of KYOCERA MITA’S customer service.”

Koen Heylen, IBM Project Partner stated: “The issues faced by KYOCERA MITA typify those faced by many companies all around the globe: how to achieve a unified supply chain and thereby yield significant operational and financial benefits without the resource to manage such a massive transformation. IBM is well experienced in this topic and we are pleased that KYOCERA MITA asked us to assist them in this.”

About KYOCERA MITA
KYOCERA MITA is one of the world's leading office document solutions companies. The product range consists of printers, multifunctional systems, wide format devices, parts, supplies and efficient office document solutions. KYOCERA MITA provides innovative products with superior printer controllers, built on a foundation of long-life components, allowing it to offer its customers low total cost of ownership and high efficiency in any workplace. For further information, visit: www.kyoceramita-europe.com

About DHL
DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source. DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. 285,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.
DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of more than 60 bn euros in 2006.

About IBM
With consultants and professional staff in more than 160 countries globally, IBM is the world's largest consulting services organization. IBM provides clients with business process and industry expertise, a deep understanding of technology solutions that address specific industry issues, and the ability to design, build and run those solutions in a way that delivers bottom-line business value. Our comprehensive supply chain management offerings address every phase of the supply chain, with capabilities and experiences in supply chain planning, procurement, product lifecycle management, operations, logistics, supply chain systems and ERP. For more information visit www.ibm.com