Plant Location International (PLI)
Trade regulations and digital disruption are changing economic globalization, effecting how companies invest. PLI services are helping them decide where to establish, expand or consolidate operations.
Global center of competence
Plant Location International (PLI) is a specialized consulting service within IBM Global Business Services® acting as the global center of competence for Global Location Strategies. With six decades of market leadership, PLI advises companies on their location decisions, covering all sectors and types of business functions. PLI works with government agencies worldwide for economic development and investment promotion in their efforts to improve their locations for investors.
The benefits
Optimal risk-reward footprint solution
Locations ready for digital transformation
Actionable business environment improvement
The services
Corporate location strategy and site selection
IBM’s rigorous approach to selecting the optimal location helps minimize operational risks while maximizing advantages related to markets, talent access and costs.
Digitally reinvented supply chain strategy
A digitally reinvented supply chain strategy results in lower costs, better service levels and less operational risks through smart optimization from sourcing to distribution.
Putting smart to work for economic vitality
This agile approach to economic development as a platform emphasizes skills, capabilities and innovation as catalysts for growth through integrated support and effective promotion, innovation enablement and industry development.
Digital operating model design and footprint optimization
IBM helps companies understand how best to structure their operational footprint by identifying opportunities for global digital operating model optimization through a restructuring of their operational footprint.
Global location trends analytics
Companies and governments need to understand how today’s global dynamics influence where they should expand their businesses. IBM’s global location trends analytics provide instant compelling insights into relevant trends.
Smarter cities
Cities are technologically empowered as their core systems become instrumented and interconnected, enabling new levels of intelligence. IBM helps them face challenges and threats to their sustainability that need to be addressed holistically.
Global Location Trends Analyzer
This analytic tool tracks corporate location selection by monitoring companies’ real-life decisions about where to establish or expand their global business. Based on Cognos® Analytics on Cloud technology, the tool provides analytic insights on competitive investment behavior in specific industries, as well as insight into the investment performance of selected geographies. The tool is available through a fixed annual subscription with a fee for unlimited usage.
Case studies
Choice of successful new manufacturing location
IBM supported this North American MedTech company in creating additional manufacturing capacity for their medical devices to serve the European and subsequently the global market from a new greenfield site.
Supply chain strategy reduced network complexity and improved performance
For this OTC pharma manufacturer, IBM identified at least 5% gross margin savings and working capital reduction by nearly USD 200M achievable within five years as well as transportation savings “quick wins” achievable within year 1.
Economic development strategy to attract ICT and electronics into Africa
IBM identified the true potential for developing the ICT and electronics industries in this African country by assessing global value chains and country capabilities and competitiveness as input for an action plan and roadmap.
Digital sales center optimization strategy for a more balanced footprint
IBM’s in-depth footprint scenario analysis defined short-term improvements and long-term strategic choices including the reduction from 45 existing points of presence to 12 centers globally.
FDI market share analytics as input for go-to-market strategy
Based on in-depth trend analytics into the country’s performance in securing foreign direct investment by sector, business activity and origin country, a future proof go-to-market strategy was developed for this European investment promotion agency.
Developing a vision for The City that Learns
IBM created the vision for a new sustainable Australian education city by developing strategic guidelines through digitally enabled initiatives and input into a technology masterplan to realize the smarter journey.
In today's globalized world, almost every business transformation has impact on where companies best operate. With over 60 years of experience, Plant Location International is an IBM global center of excellence for supporting companies with optimizing their global footprints.
Patsy Van Hove
Senior Manager Global Location, Supply Chain
and Economic Development Strategies