Brother In The 90sUNPRECEDENTED GROWTH MAKES THE$1 Billion Dream a RealitySAP – A SMART MOVE FOR BUSINESSMORE THAN A MOVE…A MESSAGEIn 1994, facing ever-increasing business Thanks to aggressive marketing and product In 1998, Brother moved their U.S. corporate volumes and anticipating more of the same for development, launching award-winning categories headquarters to a new, state-of-the-art offce the future, Brother International Corporation like laser printing and multi-function, and complex centrally located in Bridgewater, New selected SAP as its enterprise system. In 1995, integrating new management protocols, Brother Jersey. As one of the key tenants in a campus, the system – which incorporates best practices realized its dream as it went from a $200 million shared with leaders in fnance, pharmaceuticals, and principles of governance that advocate an company in 1984 to a $1 billion company in 1997.telecom and medical technology, Brother occupies openness of corporate direction and requests almost 100,000 square feet of space with Despite the fact that Brother was a product- employee participation – was implemented for consolidated marketing, sales and administrative driven company, senior management instituted Brother. In June of 1997, the full SAP R/3 system divisions, as well as operations for their satellite a number of guidelines that refected its innate was implemented in New Jersey for Brother. offces throughout North and South America. understanding of the “human” side of business, Subsequent to early start-up issues, the system Clearly, the message of commitment and leadership using the umbrella thematic of “at your side” has performed very well for Brother. Further it sends to the marketplace is every bit as to ensure that its staff stayed focused on the implementations of R/3 were done for Brother impressive as the location it’s being sent from.customer. They believed in the Japanese Canada and Brother Mexico over the next years.philosophy of “Okyakusama Wa Kamisama” – the customer (end user) is “King,” the retailer is “Queen,” and Brother employees are “Treasures.” Personal experience taught Brother that a satisfed JUPITER - NOT AS BIG AS employee makes for a satisfed customer, so the THE PLANET, BUT PRETTY BIGcompany protected and nurtured the sales force with incentives like The President’s Club, bonuses, parties, Originally a 150,000 square foot manufacturing, special events, and other benefts that consistently logistics and research facility, the Bartlett complex communicated a sense of worth to employees.has since grown and grown and grown. The structure, which was completed in 1998 and While R&D and manufacturing were established appropriately dubbed “Jupiter,” after the largest in Bartlett, Tennessee, sales territories were planet in our solar system, houses a galactic one expanded to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Chile. million square feet of warehouse space for distribution, Brother also made a crucial investment decision customer and tech services and manufacturing.BROTHER ONLINE – FROM SOURCE TO RESOURCE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEENby establishing the accessories group as an independent entity in 1992.The $40 million facility occupies more than 44 There are many facets to a company’s online Visitors to Brother.com get a clear picture of Brother’s million cubic feet and spans more than 24 football presence. For some, it’s a cutting-edge commerce philosophy. From there, they can easily navigate the Brother also demonstrated its ability to “think felds. A second 500,000 square foot phase, tool that gives national – and international – company’s wide range of categories and products. locally” while understanding the inherent beneft scheduled for completion by the end of 2004, presence to any size vendor. For others, it’s an The company’s “intranet” provides the sales group of “acting globally.” That is why it instituted an will ultimately result in Brother having the largest invaluable resource for communicating information, with up-to-the-minute data regarding pricing, internationally accepted system for overseeing all distribution complex in the southeastern U.S. company profles, etc. Then there are those who use programs, logistics, and more – everything it aspects of supply chain management in 1994, it as a “virtual” internal communications hub, linking needs to provide a level of customer service laying the groundwork for the future.regional branches and feld reps with headquarters. as good as its products.For Brother, it’s all of the above.41 42