Analytics without question can help industrial manufacturers gain a competitive edge. But, given the prolonged economic slowdown, some companies may not be using analytics enough to help sustain high performance through this tough time. Operations, the heart of industrial goods and services production, is particularly vulnerable during recessionary periods because of volatility in demand. If ever there was a time when companies need to increase development of their analytical capability to understand how best to predict and manage the operational inefficiencies and high costs associated with fluctuating demand, it is now.
