Manufacturing Business Technology - January 1, 2006

Anyone struggling to understand the business value of a service-oriented architecture (SOA) should have a chat with David Berry. Berry is CIO of New York City-based Coty Inc., the world's largest fragrance manufacturer. He says installing an SOA helped Coty accomplish three major business goals in less than six months.

• Applications and Services
• In brief
• Buying into the right strategy
• Case-In-Point
• Laser equipment maker uses Omnify PLM for central product information database launch
• Customer Relationship Management
• Medical device sector's new frontier is automated quote and contract generation
• Extended ERP
• SYSPRO/Preactor integration promises advanced plant scheduling out of ERP
• Multichannel ERP
• Enhanced customer service, flexibility, accuracy put dental supplier on growth curve
• Supply Chain Planning
• Manufacturers look to ERP for the "granularity" needed for lean, global supply chains
• Supply Chain Roundup
• Spotlight on transportation management and logistics
• Transportation Management
• Sterling Commerce tackles logistics costs with on-demand solution, networked providers

• Business Performance
• In brief
• The four things that must be known
• Ask AberdeenGroup
• How is globalization changing inventory policies?
• Case-In-Point
• Vita-Tech goes for simplicity, manageability with QAD enterprise system selection
• Inventory Optimization
• Find the right balance between enhanced customer service, less inventory
• Key Performance Indicators
• MESA moves metrics framework to the next level of operational improvements
• The Cost of Doing Business
• How software application pricing models are likely to change

• Columnists
• Back Talk
• Let's do some social networking
• Up Front
• Doing well, manufacturers look to do better

• Integration and Infrastructure
• In brief
• The case for wireless on the plant floor
• In brief
• Automatic Identification
• Intermec pledges 40 more years serving data collection, mobile solutions users
• Beyond the Desktop
• Specialized handheld devices deliver situation-specific advice on demand
• Cyber Threat Management
• Enterprise security measures may heighten vulnerability of plant-floor solutions
• RFID Roundup
• Market expands with acquisitions, funding

• Special Report
• China
• The different meanings of "yes"

• Views From the Front
• Brand Management
• Report indicates upswing in satisfaction for manufactured nondurable goods
• Corporate
• Dell Global Services grows with new hires
• Global Competitiveness
• "Structural" costs inhibit manufacturing growth, says NAM report
• Information Technology
• World-class IT organizations spend more than peers
• Operations
• PLM seems to be catching on in Asia
• Supply Chain Security
• More C-TPAT staff expected to shorten validation delays
• The Market is the Message
• Greenspan and AMR Research on innovation in enterprise software markets