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Siemon Leverages Datalliance VMI ServiceJun 05, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Datalliance, an independent supplier of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) services, announced that Siemon, a manufacturer of high-performance network cabling solutions, has launched its vendor managed inventory (VMI) program using the Datalliance VMI service. In a release, the company noted that the first phase of Siemon's VMI program is focused on implementation with Graybar Electric, a top Siemon distributor. Siemon has over 11,000 potential product configurations that they supply to Graybar's 250 locations. Katie Villa, Siemon's Distributor Account Manager, explains the business benefits for both Siemon and Graybar. "VMI gives us the capability to better manage our entire supply chain as we gain a more accurate picture of anticipated demand for Graybar. This helps us better plan everything from production mix to raw materials requirements - aligning our efforts more closely with Graybar demand patterns. With the large number of end items that we supply, VMI helps us address the challenge of having the product configurations that Graybar needs across their 250 locations, when they need them. Graybar and our other major distributors will benefit from increased inventory turns and sales of Siemon products". The company said that Siemon evaluated several VMI alternatives including other VMI services as well as the VMI module available from their ERP software provider. "We selected Datalliance for several reasons," explained Villa. "Datalliance is scalable, allowing us to start with Graybar, but then easily expand our implementation to all of our key distributors. We also liked the fact that Datalliance is proven in our industry and specifically with Graybar. They use Datalliance today with other suppliers which meant we did not have to sell Graybar on VMI and Datalliance, allowing us to get up and running with Graybar in only nine weeks. The software-as-a-service model employed by Datalliance also allowed us to minimize our resource commitment as we did not have to add staff to manage and run our VMI program." Tom Hoar, Datalliance Director Datacom Sales, said, "Trading partners in the datacom industry are looking for proven strategic initiatives that provide financial benefits and top line sales growth for both suppliers and their key distributors. The collaboration between Siemon and Graybar is an excellent example of how VMI can help leading datacom suppliers and distributors partner for short and long term success." ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |