APC 2001 Annual Report Download - page 28

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Challenges
Be committed
to Quality
Improve
supply chain management
with the Internet
Schneider Electric is expanding e-business links with
all its distributors through the e.distribution extranet
to create the most competitive integrated supply
chain possible all the way to the final customer.
This approach is also being applied to other
customer categories.
Reduce
time to market
for new products
We are pursuing our investments to develop
products faster and respond even more effectively
to market opportunities. Digital simulation
techniques, for example, reduce the need for
prototypes. Thanks to the Internet, virtual-platform
arrangements ensure fast circulation of information
between internal and external project partners,
making it easier for them to work together.
These methods help reduce lead times
and development costs. They also promote
concurrent engineering of products
and manufacturing processes, from assembly
to maintenance and recycling.
Increase
customer satisfaction
and productivity
The Developments – Industry Corporate Division is
in charge of enhancing our performance in product
development, reducing time to market, optimizing
industrial strategy and internationalizing purchases.
Our first priority is to offer reliable products on time.
The self-assessment-based improvement plan
initiated in 1998 has lifted the level of quality
at Schneider Electric.
In addition, a dedicated intranet promotes the use
of statistical methods in production, including
Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Failure Mode,
Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA).
In 2001, India, Poland and Ireland joined
29 Schneider Electric countries already using
this approach.
As part of NEW2004, we have taken a new step
toward controlling quality by introducing
the Six Sigma method in all our production units.
Because improved productivity and quality are crucial
to achieving sustainable growth, we need to shorten time
to market for products, respect our delivery commitments
and offer reliable products.