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In a recent article in Beauty Packaging, executives from Estée Lauder reveal a revolutionary new approach to product launches. They suggest that collaborating as early as possible with suppliers can not only save time and costs, but can also improve designs, provide better materials, and streamline the entire supply chain before the first piece is ever produced. Utilizing this model, Estée Lauder recently launched one of their smoothest and most profitable fragrances ever.
Topflight Corporation approached Estée Lauder with the idea of integrating lean concepts into its label supply chain almost ten years ago. As a result, Topflight was able to strip unnecessary touches from the supply chain, and turn a seemingly insignificant commodity like labels into one of the cosmetic company's most manageable expenses. Since then, Topflight has helped companies like Procter & Gamble and Black & Decker to achieve similar results, and has become a resource for lean manufacturing learning at various conferences and universities.
Dynamic supplier-customer relationships require a unique blend of technology and experience. Constant access to specifications, forecasts, and real-time manufacturing schedules must be available for collaboration to be effective. Even more important is an expert lean provider. The best technology in the world can't identify all the inefficiencies in your unique supply chain. Topflight has helped several companies become more lean and responsive, and looks forward to expanding those concepts to design for the entire supply chain.
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