Case Study

Manufacturing (Automotive Electronics): Breaking Through the "Bulk Orders → Last-Minute Cancellations" Crisis
Achieving Stockout Rate ▲15% & Profit Margin +20% Through Distribution Restructuring × Demand Forecasting

Annual revenue ¥150 billion · ETC vehicle device manufacturer | Fundamental restructuring of an unstable production system dependent on wholesalers
ManufacturingAutomotive ElectronicsETCB2B StrategyDemand ForecastingProduction ManagementData-Driven Management

Client Overview

IndustryManufacturing: Automotive Electronic Components (ETC Vehicle Devices)
Annual RevenueApprox. ¥150 billion
Employees500
Services ProvidedStrategy Development / B2B Strategy / Demand Forecasting / Data-Driven Management

Situation & Challenges Before Engagement

This company, with annual revenue of ¥150 billion, manufactured and sold ETC vehicle devices through a B2B distribution network. However, at a certain point, a problem that threatened the very foundation of their business began to emerge. Repeated "bulk orders followed by last-minute cancellations" from wholesalers had pushed their production planning and inventory management to the brink of collapse.

"Honestly, we were considering downsizing the business," the manager confided — that's how severe the situation was. The problem wasn't just surface-level inventory management; it lay in the distribution structure itself and the fragility of the production system that depended on it.

Meets Consulting's Approach

Meets Consulting proposed a fundamental restructuring of the distribution network, strategically leveraging the timing of a "model change" in the business. By using the product transition as an opportunity to overhaul the problematic distribution structure itself, this was a bold decision — but also the only path to resolving years of accumulated problems.

Phase 1 | Distribution Network Restructuring & Consolidation into Specific Channels

Leveraging the model change timing, we restructured multiple wholesalers and distribution channels. By consolidating into specific trade channels, we built a structure that controlled the flow of special-price products into the market and prevented price disruption. This single move directly led to significant profit margin improvement.

Phase 2 | Implementing a Demand Forecasting Model

To break free from the reactive production system that was at the mercy of "bulk orders → cancellations," we built a data-based demand forecasting model. Combining sales records, seasonality, and market trends improved forecasting accuracy and contributed to stabilizing production planning.

Phase 3 | Establishing a Data-Driven Production Management System

We established a system for sharing demand forecast results across production, sales, and logistics departments. Cross-departmental data utilization became the foundation for achieving a "resilient production management system" and "stable corporate growth."

Results Achieved

Stockout rate improved by 15% YoY, and profit margin improved by 20% YoY. As the words "It took time, but we achieved a more resilient production management system and stable corporate growth" suggest, this was not a short-term numerical improvement but the result of structural transformation.

Stockout Rate Improvement
▲15%
YoY
Profit Margin Improvement
+20%
YoY

Client Testimonial

"The crisis of bulk orders and last-minute cancellations from wholesalers became the catalyst for reviewing everything from distribution to production management, which improved our profit margins. It took time, but we achieved a more resilient production management system and stable corporate growth. We were honestly considering downsizing the business, so we're truly grateful for Meets Consulting's support."
— Manufacturing (Automotive Electronics), Manager

Key Takeaways from This Case

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