How Accenture is Boosting its Supply Chain Capabilities

Accenture's strategic move to acquire global management consultancy Staufen is poised to enhance its capabilities in aiding clients across diverse sectors of manufacturing and supply chain management.

The incorporation of more than 200 seasoned professionals from Staufen’s teams in the US, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico and Brazil into Accenture’s supply chain and operations practice represents a significant expansion.

This acquisition is particularly advantageous for clients involved in discrete manufacturing sectors such as automotive, medical equipment, industrial goods and aerospace and defence, thanks to Staufen’s robust portfolio of Industry 4.0 solutions.

Clients are set to experience enhanced operational efficiency, crucial for maintaining competitiveness and transparency in future business landscapes.

Integration benefits and strategic enhancements

The manufacturing landscape today is fraught with challenges. Among these are geopolitical tensions, fluctuating tariffs, and persistent disruptions in supply chains, compounded by the need to keep up with swift technological advancements.

By acquiring Staufen, Accenture positions itself to better support its manufacturing clients in addressing these challenges. Staufen’s extensive Industry 4.0 expertise spans supply chain management and organisational oversight, fuelled by a philosophy focused on constant improvement.

Staufen is renowned for aiding manufacturers in optimising everything from product design and time-to-market to shopfloor processes and overall sustainability efforts, ultimately leading to significant cost reductions, efficiency improvements, and optimized production capacity.

Staufen’s impactful academy also plays a crucial role in ensuring sustained benefits for clients by fostering leadership and talent for the future. A notable example of Staufen's efficacy includes advancements in shopfloor management for a leading automotive supplier, which considerably boosted the production, logistics, and quality control agility and efficiency.

As Wilhelm Goschy, CEO at Staufen, states, “We optimise our client’s entire value chains, which is essential in today’s fierce competition, disruptive innovations and global challenges. We go beyond technology, working directly in our clients’ offices and factories to drive true change.

"Joining Accenture will enable us to bring our three decades of hands-on expertise to even more clients to help them navigate complex transitions with customised digital solutions.”

Matthias Hégelé, Accenture’s supply chain and operations lead for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, concurs: “Manufacturers must continuously improve their entire value chains to stay competitive. The acquisition of Staufen aligns with our strategy to reinvent supply chains and manufacturing for clients.

"We will combine Staufen’s proven expertise in operational excellence and value chain transformation with our capabilities in digital technologies, such as AI, generative AI, digital twins and supply chain and manufacturing software platforms, to help clients transform their core value chains, improving efficiency and productivity, supporting sustainable practices and building resilient, autonomous systems.”

Embracing AI in Manufacturing

The consensus in the industry reinforces that Industry 4.0, especially AI, is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of manufacturing operations.

Speaking to sister title Manufacturing Digital, Praveen Rao, Global Director, Head of Manufacturing Industry at Google Cloud, recently highlighted the significant trends in AI which are are expected to revolutionise the sector this year.

Rao explained how Gen AI will allow manufacturers to tackle the growing trend towards servitisation, by fostering superior production and supply chain agility. For manufacturers, the ability to quickly adapt to new opportunities and recover from setbacks — attributes central to agility — are critical in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies effectively.

With Staufen’s repertoire of solutions, Accenture is better equipped to guide manufacturers through these transformations, enhancing its agility and capability to manage disruptions smoothly.

Christina Raab, Accenture’s market unit lead for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, highlights the imperative for operational excellence, “In today’s volatile landscape, organisations need solutions that address every critical aspect of their operations, from rising production costs to supply chain complexities.

"Adding Staufen will help us unlock the full value of manufacturing and supply chain operations.”

Rachael Bartels, Senior Managing Director at Accenture, warmly welcomed Staufen on LinkedIn: “Welcome Staufen to the Accenture family. Great to see us continuing to deepen our skills in operations and AI to help our clients deliver safe, sustainable and resilient operations.”

Explore the latest edition of Supply Chain Digital and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE.

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today. 

Supply Chain Digital is a BizClik brand.