Quintiq (Hertogenbosch, Netherlands):

Heeres A., Chief Operating Officer, e-mail: pressrelease@quintiq.com

Steel producers meet two main problems at present time: high level of customers’ requirements and productivity. Thereby the companies need to improve their logistic of supplies via optimization of their business plans and delivery facilities. The steel industry in Europe is a competitive market. Increasing pressure from competition in Asia, especially China, is a concern for many companies. Global steel prices are at their lowest level in the decade, according to an index compiled by CRU Consulting. The EU is taking a number of measures to overcome this. Precautions have been taken to protect domestic steelmakers, including the March introduction of anti-dumping duties on imports of cold-rolled flat stainless steel from China and Taiwan. In the face of these challenges, steel companies need to increase efficiency and productivity to make sure that they don’t fall behind competitors. One way of doing this, especially for logistically intense companies, is to optimize business processes and the supply chain.