German Supply Chain Experts successful with internationalization strategy. Role of supply chain management becomes more and more important for business success

Barkawi Management Consultants with headquarters in Munich achieved revenues of 18.9 million euros in 2011. Compared to the previous year this was a growth of 12 per cent. At the same time the number of consultants rose to 105. Major drivers for the positive development have been a strong request from the telecommunications and automotive industries as well as a high demand for the Barkawi consulting expertise in North America.

“The internationalization strategy we have been following for several years pays off” says Karim Barkawi, Founder and Managing Partner. “Today we are present with office locations in all important markets, in Europe, North America and Asia. We are able to support our customers with their supply chains on a global level and local know-how.” As an example serves the Atlanta office of the supply chain management and after sales services consultants, which was opened in 2010 and became since then a major pillar for revenue generation.

Despite unstable general market perspectives, Barkawi aims at realizing another year of double digit growth. “Dynamic developments in production and sales markets require flexible procurement, manufacturing and distribution systems. This will drive the request for supply chain consulting” is Karim Barkawi convinced. “We will face a demand for cost cutting measures within the supply chain and the necessity of implementing global high performance distribution systems, especially in Asia. The incorporation of effects on the supply chain during the product development process like defining the number of product varieties will become one focus within our consulting projects. Another key aspect will be the design of sustainable supply chain solutions, which will become very important in a short period of time because of rising fuel prices and political regulation of greenhouse emissions”, adds Barkawi.