Qlik Case Studies QlikView’s “revolutionary technology” succeeds where OLAP failed at Superior Graphite

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	QlikView’s “revolutionary technology” succeeds where OLAP failed at Superior Graphite Qlik

QlikView’s “revolutionary technology” succeeds where OLAP failed at Superior Graphite

Qlik

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
Applicable Functions	Business Operation Sales & Marketing
Use Cases	Predictive Quality Analytics Predictive Replenishment
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services
Challenge	Superior Graphite, a chemical manufacturer specializing in high-temperature technologies, advanced sizing, blending, and coating technologies, was facing challenges in developing data dashboards that would enable better decision-making at all levels. The company wanted to reduce the development costs of integrating a quality business intelligence software system and enhance the richness, accuracy, and usability of corporate data and corresponding data analysis. The company had previously spent a significant amount on consulting time, hardware, and software, but the project dragged on without any results. The company needed a solution that could provide fast access to in-depth data and analysis to improve response time, forecasting, and decision making. Read More
About Customer	Superior Graphite Company is a Chicago-based company that produces a broad range of graphite and carbon products for thousands of industrial applications around the world. The company specializes in high-temperature technologies, advanced sizing, blending, and coating technologies. It offers more than 20 branded product lines serving the needs of more than a dozen eclectic global markets – from ferrous metallurgy (iron and steel) to friction materials, agriculture to batteries and fuel cells, advanced ceramics to polymers and composites. Since its founding in 1917, Superior Graphite has explored the physical and geographical frontiers of its markets. The company operates three laboratories for R&D and product support in its quest for innovative customer solutions, and works with national laboratories and universities on programs for materials technology advancements. Read More
Solution	Superior Graphite deployed the first phase of QlikView to 20 users in only four hours – a task that eluded a team of expensive consultants for more than 18 months. With QlikView Server, Superior Graphite replaced a static 50+ page report with a dynamic BI system that empowers its management teams to analyze all of its sales and finance data – slicing and dicing information by plant, accounting code, balance sheets, trial balances, and many other metrics. All of the company’s financials are now live on QlikView. Dashboards cover each accounting function, trends, KPIs, balance sheets, P&L – sorted by company, plant, accounting code and expense and each of the couple of hundred product lines. The president now has sales forecasting as a gas gauge on his dashboard. He has now challenged the sales teams for 100 % “green,” meaning hitting the forecast number 95 % of the time. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Predictive Quality Analytics

Predictive Replenishment

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

Challenge

Superior Graphite, a chemical manufacturer specializing in high-temperature technologies, advanced sizing, blending, and coating technologies, was facing challenges in developing data dashboards that would enable better decision-making at all levels. The company wanted to reduce the development costs of integrating a quality business intelligence software system and enhance the richness, accuracy, and usability of corporate data and corresponding data analysis. The company had previously spent a significant amount on consulting time, hardware, and software, but the project dragged on without any results. The company needed a solution that could provide fast access to in-depth data and analysis to improve response time, forecasting, and decision making.

About Customer

Superior Graphite Company is a Chicago-based company that produces a broad range of graphite and carbon products for thousands of industrial applications around the world. The company specializes in high-temperature technologies, advanced sizing, blending, and coating technologies. It offers more than 20 branded product lines serving the needs of more than a dozen eclectic global markets – from ferrous metallurgy (iron and steel) to friction materials, agriculture to batteries and fuel cells, advanced ceramics to polymers and composites. Since its founding in 1917, Superior Graphite has explored the physical and geographical frontiers of its markets. The company operates three laboratories for R&D and product support in its quest for innovative customer solutions, and works with national laboratories and universities on programs for materials technology advancements.

Solution

Superior Graphite deployed the first phase of QlikView to 20 users in only four hours – a task that eluded a team of expensive consultants for more than 18 months. With QlikView Server, Superior Graphite replaced a static 50+ page report with a dynamic BI system that empowers its management teams to analyze all of its sales and finance data – slicing and dicing information by plant, accounting code, balance sheets, trial balances, and many other metrics. All of the company’s financials are now live on QlikView. Dashboards cover each accounting function, trends, KPIs, balance sheets, P&L – sorted by company, plant, accounting code and expense and each of the couple of hundred product lines. The president now has sales forecasting as a gas gauge on his dashboard. He has now challenged the sales teams for 100 % “green,” meaning hitting the forecast number 95 % of the time.

Impact #1	Real-time tracking of all financial information made available in at-a-glance dashboards
Impact #2	Fast access to in-depth data and analysis to improve response time, forecasting, and decision making
Impact #3	Reduced reliance on outside consultants and increased productivity of internal IT staff

Impact #1

Real-time tracking of all financial information made available in at-a-glance dashboards

Impact #2

Fast access to in-depth data and analysis to improve response time, forecasting, and decision making

Impact #3

Reduced reliance on outside consultants and increased productivity of internal IT staff

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Overview

QlikView’s “revolutionary technology” succeeds where OLAP failed at Superior Graphite

Operational Impact