Case Studies » Canon
Canon is a global leader in imaging solutions, offering simple advanced solutions for businesses and consumers. In Australia the company was looking for an advanced solution to a problem of its own, the storage and distribution of its printed and promotional marketing collateral. As a non-core activity it made sense to outsource this requirement and Canon Australia began using PMA Solutions' logistics services for both its Business Imaging Solutions Group and Consumer Imaging Products Group in November 2002.
"Our warehouse systems are designed to store and distribute our imaging products, not print and marketing collateral" said Paul da Silva, Marketing Communications Manager from Canon's Business Imaging Solutions Group.
PMA Solutions and Canon, upon entering this agreement, set up a range of key performance indicators assuring Canon of the quality of service to be delivered to its clients. These KPI's included a variety of parameters, from reporting to order processing times and delivery accuracy.
To effectively implement this offering PMA Solutions developed and executed a transition plan.
"We were particularly impressed at the way PMA approached getting us set up" added Mr da Silva.
Initial meetings were held with the two separate Canon business divisions to establish the volume of goods that PMA Solutions would receive upon commencement of service.
A sample of each item was taken to assist in creating Canon's on-line and off-line catalogues, and for PMA Solutions' warehouse staff to identify all items coming into the warehouse. Timeframes were agreed upon for completion of both catalogues.
The second stage of implementation involved the Business Imaging Solutions Group (BISG) sending its materials to PMA Solutions. Stocks that came to the warehouse, in addition to the samples previously collected, were added to the on-line ordering system. All cost centres were then entered into the on-line ordering system (for meaningful reporting to Canon at the end of each month). At this stage PMA Solutions was ready to begin distributing orders for BISG. This second stage of implementation took around one week.
The transition process was replicated for the Consumer Imaging Products Group (CIPG) and all Canon suppliers were advised to deliver directly to PMA Solutions.
The next step was training the relevant Canon staff on how to use PMA Solutions' on-line ordering system. Prior to this all orders were being faxed or e-mailed. On completion of training key Canon staff were able to utilise the on-line catalogue to request goods the goal being for all orders to be placed in this fashion. Training and use of the system has been rolled out progressively to the state branches of the Canon business divisions.
This smooth transition was only made possible as a direct result of the collaborative approach undertaken by Canon and PMA Solutions.
Mr da Silva concluded, "So far our experience with PMA has been very positive. It was a big change for our organisation and they have managed the transition well. The relationship is off to a great start."
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