Automotive manufacturing companies and their tier one and tier two suppliers comprise one of the most cost-driven and efficiency-seeking industries in the world. With an ever-increasing focus on optimizing the supply chain, the automotive industry has a relentless drive for quality and cost reduction. Companies in this category require many distinct skill-sets to make and sell their products. Among them:

Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement
Collaboration with key vendors
Just-in-time inventory management
Supply chain optimization

The automotive industry requires a true understanding of its unique processing needs, including multiple EDI relationships and requirements, key cost drivers and process metrics, as well as transportation and logistics requirements. For example, a supplier's IT system infrastructure must minimize transaction handling time and charges as well as manual entry and maintenance of systems data. Customer orders must be processed as efficiently as possible to pass immediate demand to the shop floor for fulfillment.

In addition to filling customer orders, suppliers must react to constantly changing forecasts, pushing them to rely on complex methodologies and collaborative planning with their customers. The automotive industry has a unique mix of OEM and aftermarket supply needs, the fulfillment of which often depends on a mix of repetitive and made-to-order manufacturing.
Thirdware helps automotive companies — OEMs, suppliers, dealers and aftermarket companies — execute good ideas in innovative ways to achieve timeless objectives: profitability, growth and productivity.