Impact at scale: recent case studies
Complexity and cost-to-serve improvement program for a specialty films company
10 to 20 percent EBIT improvement and 10 percent increase in constrained manufacturing capacity
E2E complexity optimization program for an architectural coatings company
30 percent SKU reduction, 45 percent reduction in recipe families, 13 percent raw material reduction, and 20 percent EBIT improvement
Product management excellence program that included complexity optimization for a polyurethanes player
Implemented PM excellence and identified a path to improve EBIT by 2 percent of sales based on pilot results
Below-the-skin optimization to capture value following a portfolio restructuring initiative for a lubricants player
Identified a path to double business-unit EBITDA with a focus on portfolio optimization, procurement, and manufacturing/network
How we partner
Align product to market
Align product offerings with evolving market needs, streamline low-profit or non-strategic products, and ensure service models fit the future portfolio.
Develop platforms
Share core formulation frameworks across products and brands by application area, keeping brand differentiation while improving efficiency and supply resilience.
Simplify formulations
Identify overengineered products that exceed consumers’ willingness to pay, and shift to platforms based on what they truly value.
Align operations
Adapt manufacturing assets to new formulations and consolidated volumes, moving from batch to continuous where feasible, and assess capex for upgrades.
Align raw materials and the supply base
Link raw materials to sales, formulas, and SKUs to find consolidation opportunities, align suppliers with the updated portfolio, and define a preferred raw materials toolbox.
Our Product Excellence and Renewal Lab (PERLab) has helped an array of companies rethink platforming for their portfolios through extensive product teardowns and redesigns, improving the overall value proposition for customers while simplifying end-to-end supply chains by streamlining product portfolios.
Why Kearney?
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End-to-end value‑chain expertise. We support our clients across the whole journey, from portfolio rationalization through sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery, ensuring portfolio choices connect seamlessly to supply, production, service, and working capital management. Our supply chain expertise, especially through procurement, has allowed us to develop a deep knowledge base about various end sectors and their nuances, which we bring to bear in our client recommendations.
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Chemicals‑ready levers. We offer straightforward reformulation and qualification paths that account for purity requirements and regulatory realities, making compliance and execution easier.
Ready to simplify and strengthen? We’ll help you cut complexity where it counts and complex‑wire resilience into your business.