132 / 278
PRYSMIAN GROUP | DIRECTORS’ REPORT
132
raw materials, with increasing effort devoted to procurement planning and rationale for all materials,
particularly metals (copper, aluminium and lead), where more reliable forecasts of local needs
helped significantly reduce the level of safety stocks;
intermediate products, with various "lean" and "six sigma" projects implemented in the most critical
plants;
finished goods, with the emphasis placed on the accuracy of sales forecasts and the continued
importance of reducing slow-moving items.
These actions have resulted in a significant optimisation of inventories, while ensuring the right levels for the
production process and satisfying customers.
Lastly, it should be noted that the Group has been able to meet the growing demand for medium voltage
cables by utilities, by making the best of its European footprint. In fact, thanks to the integrated Sales and
Operations Planning process on a macro-regional scale it was possible to ensure full production capacity at
the South European factories in response to extra demand by Central and North European markets.
Actions and projects of this kind confirm the Group's commitment to ever more efficient use of resources, to
greater sharing of information and to faster response times to market needs.