Case Study: Applied Materials achieves reduced lead times and faster customer response with Kinaxis RapidResponse

Applied Materials Meeting customer needs before they arise

Applied Materials, a leading supplier of semiconductor and display equipment, faced long customer lead times—sometimes up to eight months—and slow, IT-dependent reporting after acquiring Varian Semiconductor. The company needed a way to anticipate customer needs, detect supplier capacity issues early, and reduce the time planners spent waiting for ad hoc reports.

By rolling out Kinaxis RapidResponse, Applied Materials gained real-time visibility and advanced planning capabilities, enabling rapid adjustments, what‑if analyses, and frontline access to decision-ready data. The result: shorter lead times, faster responses to disruptions (such as identifying Japan‑sourced parts after the 2011 tsunami), improved customer service, and more productive, aligned supply chain and scheduling teams.

Applied Materials

Thomas LeBlanc

Demand Management Master Scheduler and Production Control Manager