Greenville, SC June 12, 2001 The plastics division of tier-one auto supplier The Budd Co. will use a solution from Datastream, a player in the asset lifecycle management space, to enhance the management of its inventory, according to an announcement from the software company.
Datastream will provide The Budd Co. access to the Datastream Network, which will allow the company to manage its capital assets and business processes.
"Our company is very focused on getting maximum return on our capital asset spending," said Hugh Calvert, controller for The Budd Co.'s plastics division. "The Datastream Network will allow us to dramatically expand the capabilities of our existing inventory management system so that we not only save time and money on parts and supplies, but we also make sure that when we buy capital assets and equipment, we are able to get the most out of our investment."
Budd's plastics division is a leading supplier of fiberglass-reinforced composite compounds and molded products to the major automobile, truck and engine manufacturers.
The Budd Co. already uses Datastream's MP2 Enterprise maintenance software and has contracted with Datastream's materials, repair and operation (MRO) content services group to provide content management services to migrate legacy data and information to the new systems.
Datastream will integrate Budd's existing MP2 Enterprise system with the Datastream Network, with the implementation to be completed in the third quarter of this year.
"The Budd Co. recognizes that quality products begin with efficient business processes," said David Bayus, materials manager at The Budd Co.'s plastics division. "The Datastream Network gives real-time access to the materials that support our operations, and Datastream's MRO Content Services ensure that our inventory is properly allocated so our customers get the best products and the best service."
According to Bayus, Budd chose to expand its Datastream implementation based not only on the success with the MP2 Enterprise solution but also based on the momentum the company is quickly gaining with automotive suppliers for the Datastream Network. "We believe the expanded implementation of Datastream's purchasing, procurement and asset management systems will help us gain even greater operating efficiencies," he said.
In a statement, Larry Blackwell, president and CEO of Datastream, said, "This move to the Datastream Network reflects our success at helping customers combine traditional MRO requirements with an asset management focus that will increase business efficiencies, ensure that they get the most out of their capital assets and best serve their customers."
Budd, headquartered in Troy, Mich., produces components for about 100 current vehicle models. Budd is part of ThyssenKrupp Automotive, of Bochum, Germany, a $6 billion auto industry supplier. Budd operates 39 facilities with 13,000 employees in North America.
