IBM Case Studies Mueller, Inc. Using enhanced cognitive analytics to gain a competitive edge by finding valuable answers to questions not yet asked

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	Mueller, Inc. Using enhanced cognitive analytics to gain a competitive edge by finding valuable answers to questions not yet asked IBM

Mueller, Inc. Using enhanced cognitive analytics to gain a competitive edge by finding valuable answers to questions not yet asked

IBM

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Big Data Analytics Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Applicable Industries	Construction & Infrastructure
Applicable Functions	Discrete Manufacturing Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Predictive Maintenance Process Control & Optimization Visual Quality Detection
Services	Data Science Services System Integration
Challenge	Mueller, Inc., a company specializing in metal buildings and roofing products, was facing a challenge. To remain competitive, it needed to be as nimble as small companies and as scalable as larger competitors. However, its existing business intelligence platform lacked the ability to derive insight from unstructured data. The company was also facing a skills gap due to its location in a small town with a limited talent pool. Mueller had to make a choice between sticking to its values and identity or moving its headquarters to a big city where it could solve its problems by hiring more people. The company chose to stay in West Texas, which meant it needed to find smarter ways to work. Read More
About Customer	Mueller, Inc. is a company that specializes in metal buildings and roofing products. The company is headquartered in Ballinger, Texas, a town with fewer than 4,000 inhabitants. With such a small talent pool available locally, the company has learned to rely on technology to plug the skills gap. Mueller has built a data-driven organization by embedding analytics solutions into its business processes. Today, the company sells its products directly to consumers all over the southwestern United States from 35 locations across Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Read More
Solution	Mueller decided to harness the power of IBM Watson Analytics, a state-of-the-art cognitive analytics solution. This solution offered several distinct advantages over traditional business intelligence solutions. It could analyze new datasets for trends and patterns that Mueller could not have recognized otherwise, providing unprecedented insight and answering questions the company had not yet considered. The solution also understands natural language, which means it can be used by line-of-business users without statistical training. To put the new technology to the test, Mueller decided to develop a new revenue forecasting model in Watson Analytics and compare the results with its existing models, which had been developed using more traditional data-mining tools. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Big Data Analytics

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration

Applicable Industries

Construction & Infrastructure

Applicable Functions

Discrete Manufacturing

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Predictive Maintenance

Process Control & Optimization

Visual Quality Detection

Services

Data Science Services

System Integration

Challenge

Mueller, Inc., a company specializing in metal buildings and roofing products, was facing a challenge. To remain competitive, it needed to be as nimble as small companies and as scalable as larger competitors. However, its existing business intelligence platform lacked the ability to derive insight from unstructured data. The company was also facing a skills gap due to its location in a small town with a limited talent pool. Mueller had to make a choice between sticking to its values and identity or moving its headquarters to a big city where it could solve its problems by hiring more people. The company chose to stay in West Texas, which meant it needed to find smarter ways to work.

About Customer

Mueller, Inc. is a company that specializes in metal buildings and roofing products. The company is headquartered in Ballinger, Texas, a town with fewer than 4,000 inhabitants. With such a small talent pool available locally, the company has learned to rely on technology to plug the skills gap. Mueller has built a data-driven organization by embedding analytics solutions into its business processes. Today, the company sells its products directly to consumers all over the southwestern United States from 35 locations across Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

Solution

Mueller decided to harness the power of IBM Watson Analytics, a state-of-the-art cognitive analytics solution. This solution offered several distinct advantages over traditional business intelligence solutions. It could analyze new datasets for trends and patterns that Mueller could not have recognized otherwise, providing unprecedented insight and answering questions the company had not yet considered. The solution also understands natural language, which means it can be used by line-of-business users without statistical training. To put the new technology to the test, Mueller decided to develop a new revenue forecasting model in Watson Analytics and compare the results with its existing models, which had been developed using more traditional data-mining tools.

Impact #1	Mueller was able to unlock new marketing opportunities, enhanced safety protocols, and supply chain improvements.
Impact #2	The company was able to refine its entire business in ways it would have never anticipated.
Impact #3	Mueller was able to explore new datasets that analysts had never seen before.

Impact #1

Mueller was able to unlock new marketing opportunities, enhanced safety protocols, and supply chain improvements.

Impact #2

The company was able to refine its entire business in ways it would have never anticipated.

Impact #3

Mueller was able to explore new datasets that analysts had never seen before.

Benefit #1	Accelerated analysis by a factor of 10.

Benefit #1

Accelerated analysis by a factor of 10.

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Overview

Mueller, Inc. Using enhanced cognitive analytics to gain a competitive edge by finding valuable answers to questions not yet asked

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit