SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY
Carlo Chiarle, VP Global Head of Manufacturing Operations at Marelli, articulates the philosophy behind the company’ s strategy.
" Digital transformation is a journey that involves the entire organisation," he explains. " The main concept is to enable our teams to spend time analysing data instead of collecting information."
A strategic partnership emerges The collaboration between Marelli and o9 originated in late 2021, with plans to implement an advanced and automated sales, inventory and operations planning( SIOP) process globally by deploying the o9 Digital Brain platform at production plants.
Both companies recognised the need for a comprehensive approach to operational planning that could address the complexities of modern manufacturing. The initial stages involved a carefully-planned pilot programme targeting specific divisions and manufacturing plants.
" We started by taking one division and a couple of plants to work together on a pilot,” recalls Koen Jacobs, VP Global Sales at o9 Solutions.
The team meticulously analysed the initial results, identifying key learnings and opportunities for improvement. Their approach was methodical and value-driven, focusing on creating scalable solutions.
The pilot ' s success was remarkable, as Koen explains:“ Within just 18 months, we were able to roll out optimised planning and decision making across Marelli.”
“We scouted different potential partners and decided on o9 for its holistic approach and experience”
CARLO CHIARLE, VP GLOBAL HEAD OF MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS & SUPPLY CHAIN, MARELLI
This rapid implementation demonstrated the effectiveness of the o9 Solutions approach and the readiness of Marelli ' s teams to embrace digital transformation.
Comprehensive solutions Marelli ' s operational landscape presented significant challenges that demanded an equally sophisticated digital solution.
The company manages an astounding 350,000 component variations sourced from 2,500 suppliers, which are ultimately transformed into 50,000 finished goods. Such complexity requires a robust, flexible and intelligent planning system that can navigate intricate supply chain dynamics.
Carlo explains why o9 Solutions stood out among potential partners.
142 May 2025