Chemicals

The client was involved in the marketing and manufacturing of metal process chemicals, powder coatings, sealants and synthetic resins. Lack of clearly defined vision and values, absence of a clearly articulated and documented corporate and business strategy, lack of customer driven standard operating procedures was impacting growth. Top management, therefore, requested assistance from UC in developing a corporate business strategy and business unit strategy.

Client Benefit: Clearly articulated corporate strategy and an organisation structure aligned with the same. Operations improvement with tangible savings was also achieved in subsequent stages.  

The client was a manufacturer of turpentine based fine chemicals and also the single largest manufacturer of synthetic camphor, worldwide. Due to increased competition in the industry, and high pressure on margins, client had been losing share in the market. With an unclear strategy to regain market leadership and increase profitability, especially given increased competition, Top Management requested UC to “Develop a Strategic Roadmap” for the company.

Client Benefit: Clearly articulated strategy and definition of initiatives to regain market leadership.  

The client was among the top three producers of carbon black in the country. Management believed that though their ‘B’ and ‘C’ class items amount to a small percentage of the value of purchases, the number of transactions for such items were too many and the pre-order process, including activities such as vendor selection, definition of stocking and reorder norms, etc. needed to be reviewed for the same. The client thus requested UC to assist in carrying out the review of inventory management.

Client Benefit: Streamlined inventory management for ‘B’ and ‘C’ class items and reduced transaction cost.  

The client was into manufacturing of carbon black in India, and was the second largest manufacturer of carbon black in the world with the technology to manufacture aqueous pigment based colorants for inkjet inks. The client was keen to explore the high growth Indian inkjet market for aqueous pigment based colorants and therefore requested UC to assess market potential for inkjet colorants in India based on the current and the future usage patterns in its application segments.

Client Benefit: Insights on the market potential based on the evolution of the market, the demand shift in competition, product segmentation and the strengths of the company to address the segments.  

The client was into manufacturing of alkyl phenols and thereafter diversified by manufacturing a wide range of agrochemicals like quinalphos and chloropyriphos-technical grade, having its manufacturing base near in Gujarat. Barely managing to breakeven at PBDIT level, the Top Management requested UC to assist in ‘identifying opportunities to improve profitability’ by identifying cost reduction initiatives.

Client Benefit: Assessed top line growth resulting from throughput improvement and savings through cost reduction initiatives.  

The client was a manufacturer of organic surface – active agents and chemicals used in formulation of fragrance and flavors. The client had added a new product (derivative of a specialty chemical) in its product portfolio and, given challenges in sourcing raw material for the new product from the local market, they planned to set up a pilot plant for the production of the specialty chemical. Considering the application range of the specialty chemical and its derivatives in the fragrance and flavors and pharmaceutical industry client considered setting up a plant on a global scale and capacity to manufacture the specialty chemical. To assess the feasibility of the same, client requested UC to conduct the engagement.

Client Benefit: Insights on market situation for specialty chemical along with a view on feasibility of setting up a global scale manufacturing plant.  

The client was a passive stakeholder in a bulk drug manufacturing organization, which had performed poorly in the past. Regular investments of capital had yielded poor returns. The bulk drug manufacturer developed a revival plan and asked for additional investment from our client. Top Management requested UC to evaluate the revival plan and opine on the feasibility of additional investment to support the revival plan.

Client Benefit: Objective opinion on feasibility of additional investment.  

The client was a pharmaceutical company, having an in-house bulk drug manufacturing facility and they wanted to hive off the facility. The Client was a partner in a bulk drug manufacturing company, which had product synergies and an offer to take over the management and operations of the pharmaceutical company’s bulk drug facility. The client therefore requested UC to conduct a strategic diligence of the bulk drug business.

Client Benefit: Assessment of strengths of the bulk drug facility and high level financials.  

The client, an international leading provider of premium quality lined pumps, valves and associated spares and services to the chemical, fine chemical and pharmaceutical chemical industries had defined a business plan for which growth depended heavily upon entry into the medium-duty segment for fluropolymer-lined pumps and valves in India, China, and the USA. The top management had requested UC to ascertain the market size for its products in India in order to understand whether it would justify setting up a manufacturing facility in the same.

Client Benefit: In depth understanding of industry dynamics such as dominance of Indian vs. International players, competitive intensity and dominant distribution channels, market size of the industry and an understanding of the shifts taking place in consumer purchasing behavior.