Construction materials & packaging

Characteristics and particularities
Industry insight

On the one hand a growth market, but gripped by a scarcity of capacities and rising commodity costs on the other – the construction industry moves between these dichotomous poles. Moreover, there is demand for green, inexpensive and innovative solutions – in other words for smart products and competitive processes. The typical consumer structure is shifting from trades firms to DIY homeowners due to the persistent trend toward do-it-yourself. Companies that supply the construction industry must face up to these challenges. This applies all the more to high-value parts and the significant supply chain costs.

A partner to many sectors that operates principally on growth markets, the packaging industry is also affected by the demand for green, sustainable and technically sophisticated solutions. The broad product ranges need to catch the eye consistently by providing more cost efficient, visually attractive and even suitably marketable solutions. Customers operating around the world need global suppliers. Hence, many small to medium-sized packaging companies are required to internationalise their own production and to follow their customers into new markets.

Challenges to
ensure competitiveness

Specific framework conditions and special challenges that are characteristic of the construction materials and packaging industries:

  • Globalisation of production and value chains
  • Integration of distribution, production, logistics and procurement through modified supply chain management strategies and processes (SCM)
  • Bundling of production and logistics processes to suit individual commodities with a consumer goods-oriented end market, e.g. in the form of DIY stores
  • Significant supply flexibility with short response times
  • Permanent cost savings through SCM and lean methods
  • Supply processes (for retail and distribution companies) to accommodate customer requirements, e.g. vendor managed inventory (VMI)
  • Implementation of cost-efficient and environmental (green logistics) transport and logistics processes
  • Punctual delivery of building sites with systems for optimised handling
  • Reduction in finished product inventories in the distribution structures while maintaining high level of delivery service

ebp-consulting
Selected consulting focuses

  • Forecasting and demand planning
  • Sales & operations planning (S&OP), integrated planning and control
  • Intelligent scheduling procedures
  • Production and distribution networks
  • Procurement and logistics strategies
  • Purchasing strategies and purchasing process optimisation
  • Inventory optimisation along the value chain
  • Line-side presentation, replenishment and range strategies in distribution
  • Order fulfilment processes
  • Transport and freight cost optimisation using big data analytics tools
  • Lean SCM methods, lean production
  • Warehouse and logistics optimisation, especially for distribution warehouses
  • Outsourcing of logistics, service provider concepts
  • SCM IT applications for planning and control

Project examples
Customer benefits through industry expertise

A selection from our extensive range of products.