Case Study: Metso achieves better forecasting, inventory control and seven-figure freight savings with Demand Solutions

Metso Manages Growth with Better Forecasting and Planning

Metso, a €7.5 billion ($9.75 billion) industrial supplier of made‑to‑order and assemble‑to‑order valves, struggled to forecast demand using its ERP system because valve-level, project‑based orders and high‑value components made part‑level historical forecasting unreliable. Demand manager Matthew O’Connor turned to Demand Solutions, implementing Demand Solutions Forecast Management (FM) and Requirements Planning (RP) to move from rear‑view, part‑level forecasts to family‑level forecasting and better distinguish recurring business from one‑off projects.

Using Demand Solutions FM to forecast valve families and Demand Solutions RP to explode those forecasts into part requirements, Metso feeds part‑supply forecasts back into ERP, filters abnormal orders, and collaborates on project business separately. The result: formalized demand planning and inventory control, seven‑figure savings in air freight, rapid control of slow‑moving parts, faster decision processes, and a rollout that took about six months with plans to expand Demand Solutions to Helsinki and Shanghai.

Metso

Matthew O'Connor

Demand Planning Manager of Global Operations