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American Pacific Implements 4R Systems’ Software
to Improve Supply Chain Management and Customer Service
4R Systems’ Supply Planning Product Suite Helps Home Furnishings Supplier Achieve Full
Supply Chain Visibility to Better Anticipate Retailer Needs
WAYNE, PA, and SAN FRANCISCO, CA, June 11, 2002 — American Pacific Enterprises, L.L.C., a leading supplier of fashion home furnishings to major specialty and department store retailers, and 4R Systems Inc. today announced the selection of 4R’s software to improve inventory management and service levels at American Pacific, after completing a successful consulting evaluation that began in June 2001. 4R is a developer of analytical tools that enable manufacturers and retailers of short lifecycle products to accurately match supply with demand.
4R’s Supply Planning software converts point-of-sale and inventory data from American Pacific’s retail clients, which include J.C. Penney, Linens ‘N Things and Target Corporation, into information that enables American Pacific to optimize stock levels from its distribution centers to client retail locations. It also allows American Pacific to predict consumer demand, which greatly enhances the company’s ability to anticipate and respond to retailer needs.
“Before our pilot program with 4R, we couldn’t find a forecasting software solution that worked for us,” said Greg Block, CEO. “But 4R was different, demonstrating from the start a clear understanding of the challenges in managing short lifecycle products. 4R’s software system will continue to help us improve our forecasting and supply planning abilities and achieve bottom-line results.”
4R’s Supply Planning software analyzes weekly POS data on sales and inventory at the SKU level for American Pacific products, provides week-to-week consumer demand forecasts by SKU and store as far out as 39 weeks and determines optimal inventory levels for each SKU at every client store and American Pacific distribution center also for a 39-week forecast period.
“American Pacific leads the industry in using sophisticated forecasting and inventory optimization tools to better serve its clients – contributing to its own as well as its clients’ profitability,” Jeff Singer, Chief Executive Officer of 4R, said. “At most other suppliers, the vast amount of data amassed on a daily basis simply goes to waste. But at American Pacific, this otherwise useless data is converted into invaluable information used to make informed decisions about product and client needs.”
About American Pacific
American Pacific, founded in 1984, is a leading designer, distributor and marketer of quality home
furnishings, primarily bed & bath. Its licensed and proprietary brand name products are distributed
throughout the United States and internationally. AP is based in San Francisco, with domestic offices
in New York, South Carolina, and Ohio, as well as offices overseas in China, India, and Pakistan.
About 4R Systems
4R Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of analytical software that allows retailers and manufacturers
to increase the profitability of short lifecycle products by accurately matching supply with demand.
4R's products leverage transactional and point-of-sales (POS) data and turn it into critical
decision-making information for forecasting and supply planning. The company was founded by supply
chain experts Marshall Fisher of Wharton Business School and Ananth Raman of Harvard Business School
whose groundbreaking research on product lifecycles with over 30 world-class retailers pioneered the
retail analytics sector.
4R is based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and has international offices in Boston, Washington, D.C. and Milan. Clients include Ahold, American Pacific, Kenneth Cole, Linens ‘n Things, Nokia and Stride Rite. For more information, please visit www.4rsystems.com or call 1-866-4RSYSTEMS.