The challenges North American manufacturers face are extreme, and manufacturers' ability to compete hangs in the balance. As the global economy becomes more integrated, these pressures are intensifying. Supply chains need to be tightened further if manufacturers are to meet these challenges head-on. One of the most effective and efficient tools manufacturers have at their disposal is information technology. While information technology can deliver bottom-line improvements to any manufacturing company, mid-sized manufacturers need those benefits the most. These organizations, those with the scale and resources needed to take advantage of packaged software and bundled solutions, frequently lack the internal expertise needed to refine and implement these technologies.

B2B Technologies' founders built supply chain solutions for two leading ERP and supply chain software companies, and they leverage that deep experience when delivering advanced technologies to their manufacturing customers. Throughout its history, B2B's track record in manufacturing demonstrates a laser focus on delivering supply chain solutions that consistently achieve the highest return on investment. These supply chain solutions use the latest innovations in new technology, in combination with manufacturers' existing technical infrastructures, to enable wide and efficient collaboration between manufacturers, their customers, and their suppliers.

B2B Technologies' supply chain expertise spans:

• Supplier Extranets - Streamlining the flow of scheduling and purchasing information between manufacturer and supplier, allowing planners and schedulers to manage by exception.
• Sell-side Solutions - Giving customers access to industrial-strength on-line ordering and management of the entire sales process, from the simplest catalogs to the most complex order scenarios, including configured items, customer-unique pricing and discounting.
• Customer Self-Service Extranets - Automating high-volume customer service functions such as order status, product specifications and pricing look-ups, allowing customers 24/7 access to their information and freeing staff to handle more demanding customer service issues.
• Business Intelligence - Amassing financial, supplier and customer data in a data warehouse where advanced mining tools can reveal the competitive insights hidden in millions of bits and bytes.

Expertise tailored to Manufacturing

When leading manufacturers need technology advice and assistance, they turn to B2B Technologies. Recently, B2B has completed projects for Kubota Manufacturing of America, Renfro Manufacturing, Morgan Corporation, Tip Top Poultry, Atlantic Envelope, National Service Industries, Guthrie Machine Works, GLOCK USA, Hoover Material Handling and AGRIS, a John Deere Company.

To learn the details of how B2B Technologies has helped leading manufacturers compete more effectively, review the following manufacturing-specific case studies:

• Kubota Manufacturing of America: Why just-in-time manufacturing benefits when a supplier extranet speeds manufacturing requirements directly to suppliers.
• Renfro Manufacturing: How the world's largest sock manufacturer used e-commerce technology to reach their smaller customers cost-effectively.
• Morgan Corporation: Why an enterprise-wide e-commerce system makes sense for an environment where all products are configured-to-order.