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Mission
The mission for Nathan Research is to combine
research, experience and thought leadership in strategies,
processes and technologies in unique ways to conceive and
implement specific ideas and solutions that companies
can derive value from.
Our Credentials
Nathan Research is made up of a seasoned
team of Industry, Process and Technology specialists with
decades of hands-on experience in industries such as Retail,
Consumer Goods and Electronics, Management Consulting and
Software, and characterized by a combination of leadership
in
strategic thinking
and successful operational execution.
The team, has a collective 100+ years of experience in
defining and implementing business strategies in several
industries.
Principals
Ram Viswanathan
Prior to launching Nathan Research, Ram spent 15+ years in a variety of
roles in the Manufacturing and Services sectors, Management Consulting,
and Enterprise software. As Sr.Director, Product Marketing at i2 Technologies,
he helped bring to market several leading edge supply chain planning
solutions for the Consumer Goods and Retail industry. As Sr.Manager at Ernst &
Young's Management Consulting practice, he led multiple reengineering efforts for
E&Y's customers in Retail, Telecom and CPG industries. Prior to E&Y, as a Systems
Analyst at Anheuser Busch and Energizer, he helped define and implement strategies and best
practices in Order Management, Distribution & Logistics, and Financial Settlements.
He is a co-author of the Retail CPFR model. A recognized expert on Retail
standards, he works closely with organizations such as UCC (now GS1), and is a
frequent speaker at conferences (such as the Stanford Supply Chain Forum)and is on
the Editorial Board of the Extended Retail Industry journal.
Ram has a M.S in Computer Science and a B.S in EE from IIT, Roorkee, India.
Ram Ganesan
Ram Ganesan has 12+ years of Supply Chain Analysis and Optimization experience in
Manufacturing and Distribution environments; Sales & Operations Processes; and
Software Solution Engineering; Previously, as a Solutions Director at i2 Technologies,
he has helped develop and implement a Supply Collaboration and Product Lifecycle
Management solutions at Compaq (now HP); He also developed a Sales &
Operations Planning solution for increasing service levels and profitability at
the high tech electronics subsidiary of Siemens. He is a published author of
several papers and articles in Processing and Manufacturing and a Post Doctoral
Research Fellow, from Penn State University. He holds a Ph.D from Penn State
University and a BS from IIT, Chennai, India.
Sundi Aiyer
Sundi Aiyer brings over 15 years of experience in supply chain planning operations and
product lifecycle management practices. Most recently, he was Vice President for Capgemini
Americas’ Supply Chain Management Practice. While at Capgemini, he has assisted companies
such as American Greetings, Albertsons, Dell, Nokia, Apple, Cisco, Blockbuster, Office Max,
Best Buy, Daimler Chrysler, Nissan, Penske, Disney, Labatt, Procter & Gamble, Wal-Mart,
and Whirlpool with the design, implementation and management of technology-enabled
business transformation initiatives in a variety of supply chain areas. His experience
spans demand, supply and operations planning, customer profitability optimization, and
service parts logistics. He has also spoken at industry summits such as the Council
of Supply Chain Management Professionals (formerly CLM), SAP’s SAPPHIRE, Manugistics’
enVISION, i2’s PLANET, and other leading supply chain conferences. Sundi graduated with a
Masters degree in management Science from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve
University, where he received the Dean’s Honor Award. He earned his undergraduate degree in
Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi, India.
Advisory Board
Tom Friedman
Founder and President of Retail Systems Alert Group, Tom is a recognized leader on
Retail Businesses, Processes and Systems. A magna cum laude graduate of Syracuse University,
he has also studied at Cambridge and Harvard. Mr. Friedman has been a frequent
contributor to PCWeek, Computerworld, Network World, Information Week,
RETAILTECH Magazine, Chain Store Age, and Executive Technology.
Rick Wrabel
Rick Wrabel is President and COO of the Memorials Division of Rock of Ages Corp. Previously
he was President of the Consumer Products Group at Pennzoil-Quaker State Company,
an automotive consumer products and service company and prior to that, President
of the Axius Division of Pennzoil-Quaker State. Earlier, Mr. Wrabel held numerous
positions at Oral B Laboratories, (a division of The Gillette Company)
including President of North America, and General Manager of Australia, New Zealand
and South Pacific. Mr. Wrabel also held numerous sales and management positions in
American Home Products-A.H. Robins Company, a pharmaceutical and consumer products
company.
Our Focus
We focus on developing customized strategies
and solutions in Business Planning, Supply Chain Planning and Risk Management.
Strategic Planning - We work with retailers, manufacturers and service providers
on a number of areas related to Long Term Forecasting, Market Planning, Supply Planning,
Product Portfolio Planning, Facility Planning, Network Analysis, Global Logistics/Distribution Planning
and Workforce Planning. We are acutely familiar with the behaviour of various supply chains
- Consumer Goods, High Tech Electronics, Telecom, Construction etc and perform an iterative,
quantitative analysis of a company's supply chain and develop a strategic assessment of opportunities
and risks. Causal factors, operational and financial constraints are taken into account simultaneously
in our plans to address problems and opportunities.
Operational Planning - After a recommended strategy is adopted, we help operationalize
the strategy through specific processes that may be a combination of customized approaches and best practices.
Managing supply chain efficiency - forecasting short term demand, procurement and shipment plans, evaluating
supply risks, outsourced logistics and manufacturing, streamlined deliveries, defining inventory policies, and
a periodic assessment of the impact on margins and profitability are issues that we work with regularly.
Recognizing the fact that planning processes tend to be unique to each organization, we define and develop
a customized approach to operational planning that involves the best mix of solution enablers, serving, in
several instances, as 'planning extensions' for our customers' organizations - in areas such as Sourcing,
Distribution and Labor planning. This approach to operational planning, (different from a pure 'software'
approach), uses specially created statistical models, algorithms and optimization engines and is a
combination of methods and tools where complex concepts are translated to practical, easy-to-use
solutions. With this approach, we are able to provide operational planning as a service.
Execution - Plans have to be followed by flawless execution. We assist customers in establishing
the necessary execution discipline - such as collaborative program management with suppliers and customers,
defining and implementing electronic transactional interfaces, adopt best practices in ePC, EDI, EFT, ERS, Global Data
Synchronization. We also provide business process services related to procurement and logistics for selected customers,
if needed.
Principles and Values
We are passionate about what we do and believe strongly in
teaming up with our customers to develop game changing strategies and approaches
that gives them sustainable business advantage. We like to take ideas from concept
to completion and demonstrate real, operational results. Our ideas, research and approach
to problem solving are supported by
 Field
validation by working with users
Academic
and other research to bring up to date knowledge capital
Knowledge of
packaged solutions' capabilities, weaknesses
Relationships
with leading industry organizations
Partners
Nathan Research has strong ties to a number
of standards organizations, other consulting groups, analysts and
media, certifying agencies, technology firms, universities,
retail and manufacturing enterprises, and leaders in the industry.
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