Franke Food Service Utilizes Ultriva Lean Supply Chain Solutions

Franke Food Service, the the world's leading providerperformance.  The Ultriva solution has provided
of intelligent systems for domestic kitchens,Franke with a platform to migrate from a push-based
professional food service, coffee preparation,supply chain to a pull-based network.
beverage delivery and hygiene solutions was 
recognized at Ultriva's user conference for its"We're proud to be able to help a worldwide leader
achievements in inventory reduction and supplierlike Franke solve some of their critical supply chain
performance. challenges," said Narayan Laksham, CEO of Ultriva,
 Inc. "Inventory reduction and improved supplier
In 2009, Franke selected the Ultriva Lean Supplierperformance are key drivers for today's leading
Platform to execute its materials replenishmentmanufacturers.
process.  Franke initially selected those customers 
that represented significant amounts of theirAbout Ultriva:
spending and also those suppliers that wereThe Ultriva Lean Supply Chain Solution, is live at over
candidates to be put on a consumption based140 plants across 10 countries.  Our customers
replenishment or kanban.  "Our inventory levels hadinclude AGCO, AO Smith, BE Aerospace, CNH,
reached unacceptable levels as our markets becameDresser, Emerson, FRANKE, Ingersoll-Rand, McKesson
more unpredictable and variable over the past fewand Owens Corning among others.  Ultriva
years. Many of our suppliers were resorting tocustomers collaborate with over 5000 suppliers and
exaggerating their lead times to provide a deliverytransact over $1.5 billion of purchased parts every
cushion and expediting our orders to do their best toyear within their demand driven supply networks.
meet the needs of our business," said Franke's David 
Morrison.About Franke:
  
"When we audited our material planning andFranke is a world leader in comprehensive systems
procurement processes, we recognized we werefor domestic kitchens and for professional applications
causing a lot of the problems that were frustratingin food service, coffee preparation, beverage delivery
our suppliers.  Our demand was too unpredictable toand hygiene solutions. Franke has a global presence
use as a basis to plan materials on.  Rather thanand a local commitment to its customers, with some
trying to address the challenges of Franke's forecast10,500 employees worldwide operating through more
driven, MRP system with the same approaches theythan 70 subsidiaries in 37 countries. The Franke
had used in the past, we decided to leverage theGroup, whose head offices are in Aarburg,
lean philosophy that is used within their business andSwitzerland, generated consolidated sales of 2,415.8
extend those principles across their value chain",million Swiss Francs in 2009.
stated Morrison.  With the Ultriva lean Supplier 
solution, Franke was able to provide real-time visibilityUltriva
of consumption to their suppliers, trigger kanbanCindy 408.248.
releases via the supplier portal and track supplier