Marubun Revolutionizes Forecast and Balance Data Management, Streamlining Management of Tens of Thousands of Items and Advancing Supply Chain Planning

EXA Corporation (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture; President and CEO: Yuta Hayashi, hereinafter EXA) provided support from implementation to stabilization for the introduction project of the supply chain planning system "Kinaxis Maestro" by Marubun Corporation (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroshi Horikoshi, hereinafter Marubun).

Marubun is an electronics trading company connecting over 50 locations worldwide, more than 3,000 customers, and over 800 suppliers. The company faced challenges in managing forecasts (sales, inventory, and order plans) for tens of thousands of products, including the complexity of standardizing to a company-wide common form and the intricate aggregation and processing required for creating reports for suppliers.

By implementing this system, Marubun has standardized its forecast management operations and streamlined data aggregation and reprocessing tasks. Furthermore, it has built a system that allows for centralized data management while leveraging the familiar Excel interface used by the field staff, achieving a balance between user-friendliness and data control.

Challenges included the personalization of forecast management for tens of thousands of products and the burden of aggregation tasks.

Marubun's forecast management for tens of thousands of products required handling different reporting formats for each supplier. In the field, sales representatives spent a lot of time on Excel tasks, leading to the personalization of operations.

Additionally, data created by sales representatives needed to be reprocessed into reports for suppliers, placing a significant workload on aggregation staff. In light of these circumstances, it was urgent to centrally manage forecast information and promote standardization and efficiency of operations.

EXA's Proposal Leveraging Deep Business Knowledge in SCM

Marubun selected "Kinaxis Maestro" as its supply chain planning system, recognizing its high-speed processing capabilities for large volumes of data.

EXA supported this project as a development partner, utilizing its integrated system from planning to operation and maintenance, and its business knowledge in the SCM domain. Working in collaboration with Marubun, EXA assisted in sorting and standardizing management information, thereby supporting the creation of a foundation for company-wide standardization of forecast management operations.

Furthermore, with a view to user adoption in the field, EXA built a system that allows for centralized data management on "Kinaxis Maestro" while maintaining the familiar Excel interface. This resulted in an operational foundation that strengthens data control while minimizing the operational burden on field staff.

Standardization of Forecast Management Operations and Reduction of Reporting Task Load Achieved

Since its operation began in August 2025, Marubun has achieved the following results:

Promotion of operational standardization and elimination of personalization

Standardized sales forecast creation operations through unification to a company-wide common form.

Reduction in the workload for creating supplier reports

Streamlined reprocessing and aggregation of forecast data, reducing the burden of report creation.

Suppression of operational load on field staff

Minimized disruption to field operations during the transition by leveraging the familiar Excel interface.

Through this implementation, Marubun has established a foundation for centrally managing forecast information. Moving forward, the company aims to deepen its data-driven management by strategically utilizing the accumulated planning data. EXA will continue to support Marubun in advancing its supply chain and achieving sustainable business transformation.

Related Pages

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Case Study Page: https://www.exa-corp.co.jp/cases/rapidresponse_marubun.html

Company Overview

EXA Corporation

EXA Corporation is an IT service company with JFE Steel as its parent company and Kindred Japan as its parent company. Valuing technical expertise and empathy for customers, it provides comprehensive services ranging from upstream consulting to development, construction, operation, and maintenance.

Homepage: https://www.exa-corp.co.jp/

About Marubun Corporation

With the purpose of "Contributing to the realization of a better future through technology," Marubun aims to be the most trusted unique electronics trading company that contributes to the realization of a sustainable society and provides unique value.

Homepage: https://www.marubun.co.jp/

Contact Information

EXA Corporation

2-F, Yokohama i-Mark Place, 4-4-5 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-8560

E-mail: [email protected]

*Company names and product names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

*The contents of this article are as of the time of publication.