Analytics, business intelligence, and key performance indicators (KPIs) are common phrases we hear just about everywhere in the workplace. The top focus for chief information officers has been on business intelligence and analytics and will likely continue through 2017 according to Gartner Inc. Gartner also says the benefits of fact-based decision making are clear to business managers in a broad range of disciplines, including supply chain management, manufacturing, engineering, risk management, and finance.

In today’s ultra-competitive manufacturing environment, relying on traditional supply-chain execution systems and their singular or siloed repository is not enough to protect a company’s brand or to reduce risk and ensure product safety. Companies not only need to ensure product quality, but also have insight into quality processes across the supply chain.

The science of analysis

What are analytics, and why are they important?

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