ARTICLE DESCRIPTION: Up to a third of industry will suffer casualties in 'the Battle for the Customer' according to the latest Plimsoll Analysis on the UK Automation and Control Systems industry.

MORE INFO: The Battle for the Customer Up to a third of industry will suffer casualties in 'the Battle for the Customer' according to the latest Plimsoll Analysis on the UK Automation and Control Systems industry. Likening company directors to generals of their own army, Plimsoll analysed the top 444 companies in the UK Automation and Control Systems industry to produce 'battle plans' each company will use to prosper. The walking wounded are the 74 companies Plimsoll feels should retreat and regroup. These companies would greatly benefit by strengthening their strategy in 3 key measures. Cutting back on all non-profit making parts of the business is primary. Debt levels should be reduced by at least 28%. In all battles there are casualties, and in this case 23% of the workforce would have to go. The analysis suggests that fundamentally many of these businesses could have a great future if costs could be controlled. Plimsoll found that if costs were bought in line, margins would rise from an average loss of 7.5% on sales to an average 1.0% profit margin. Plimsoll Publishing Tel: 01642 626400 www.plimsoll.co.uk

PUBLISHER: Institute of Operations Management

Page number: 14 Word count: 170

Vol 28 - No 07 - September 2002

The article can be downloaded in full from the publisher's site i.e. the Institute of Operations Management.

Thank you for searching on Operations Management Articles.co.uk for Research article entitled: The Battle for the Customer in the Operations Management / Research Articles and Papers Category.

Business Performance Improvement