Better Data Makes A Powerful Potion

摘要

Companies in the chemical industry are caught in the middle. As the price of raw mate- rials rises, the manufacturers that buy these chemicals are less willing to pay a premium, since they have to keep their own prices low. Chemical companies that use information to create efficiencies and cut costs are best positioned to succeed. Eastman Chemical Co. has seen profit margins squeezed over the past three years, with rising costs of raw materials for its chemicals, fibers, and plastics businesses on one side and customers who need to keep prices low on the other. "We've been the shock absorber for the value chain for years," says Eastman VP and CIO Jerry Hale.