APC 2007 Annual Report Download - page 25

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Description of the Company and its businesses
lations. The Schneider Electric Alliance has more than 700
members in some 30 countries.
Along with technical support, Schneider Electric provides
these partners with advanced engineering resources so
they can develop their business and become more com-
petitive. These resources include a library of specific ap-
plications, specialized training, highly qualified technical
support, advanced configuration software, and communi-
cation-standard-specific installations.
OEMs:
partners in performance
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) continuously
seek to improve machine performance and maintenance to
meet their customers’ needs in areas ranging from pack-
aging to textiles, elevators to conveying, and materials han-
dling and hoisting to HVAC.
As a result, they are increasingly demanding when it
comes to high-performance solutions, competencies, reli-
ability, quality, cost, innovation and time to market.
Schneider Electric works with nearly 30,000 OEMs
through its operations in 106 countries, leveraging all its
expertise and know-how to nurture their special partner-
ship. These strengths include:
Extensive knowledge of their applications.
Dedicated centers of excellence that offer the most com-
petitive solutions for new machines.
International customer support to deliver high-perfor-
mance after-sales service worldwide.
A dedicated program for multi-site and global OEMs that
enhances their ability to offer superior solutions on an in-
ternational level.
Energy suppliers:
customers today and tomorrow
There are some 11,000 electric companies around the
world. They use Schneider Electric products and services
in power generation (electricity for power plant equipment,
automation and control), distribution (medium and low volt-
age networks) and marketing (pre-payment meters, related
services).
The Group responds effectively to their expectations for
local service with applications support and innovative prod-
ucts that help them meet important challenges like market
deregulation and the development of renewable energies.
Global Strategic Accounts:
a dedicated organization
Schneider Electric has a dedicated organization for global
enterprises interested in developing special relationships
with their key suppliers. The Group’s preferred supplier
contracts ensure high-level contacts for these global strate-
gic accounts.
Thanks to shorter communication and decision-making cir-
cuits, this organization can leverage resources across the
Group and around the world very quickly. Dedicated teams
and direct senior executive-level involvement offer tangible
value added that sets Schneider Electric apart in its rela-
tionship with major accounts. The goal is to provide the
right solutions and services at each stage of a company's
international expansion and achieve the highest level of
customer satisfaction.
Some 70 global customers benefit from this organization,
including Air Liquide, Carrefour, Ford, Glaxo Smith Kline,
IBM, Lafarge, Nestlé, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Total, Toyota,
Unilever, Veolia and Wal Mart.
They are able to tap into the Group’s deep knowledge of
process automation (automobile manufacturing, cement
production, etc.), energy management in large industrial
and commercial buildings (pharmaceuticals, mass retail-
ing, etc.), data center protection and electrical distribution
and monitoring for water treatment.
In June 2007, the Strategic Management Association
(SAMA) recognized Schneider Electric’s dedicated organ-
ization with its annual award for outstanding strategic ac-
count management.
Specifiers:
well-informed relays
Specifiers, including engineers, architects and design
firms, play a key role in meeting growing demands for com-
fort, ergonomy and design. They are critical partners for
Schneider Electric’s growth, notably in the promising Build-
ings and Residential markets, which include newbuilding,
renovation, single-family homes and apartment buildings.
For this reason, the Group keeps them informed of all in-
novations and solutions that improve installation perform-
ance, safety and comfort.
To do this, it organizes reserved exhibits, prepares electri-
cal installation guides, develops installation design soft-
ware and sets up training centers.
7. A global
organization with
local roots
An organization focused on
customer satisfaction, growth and
innovation
Schneider Electric has 120,000 employees around the
world. With its global organization and local operations and
distribution networks, the Group is a reliable, responsive
and efficient partner to all its customers.
The Group designs innovative, integrated, networked so-
lutions that respond to current and emerging issues facing
manufacturers, infrastructure and data center managers,
the building and electric power industries, property devel-
opers and end users.
Schneider Electric is the only company in the world with
products and services that comply with all national and in-
ternational standards.
The Group is organized to meet four main objectives:
Make customer satisfaction a major growth driver and
key differentiating factor.
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