The main challenge of industrial transformation is anticipation! Check out the inspiring testimonials from Sanofi, Alcatel Submarine Networks, Velan, and Laboratoires Science et Nature, and dive into the world of advanced planning…
On February 6, at the 2025 Delmia Ortems UserDay, industry players came together for a day of sharing and exchange. The goal? To experience full immersion in the world of DELMIA Ortems planning and scheduling solutions. At the heart of this informative day were testimonials from four user companies, who came to share their experiences and demonstrate the power of DELMIA Ortems tools in meeting the challenges of their respective industries. From strict regulatory constraints to complex project management, changeover time optimization, and production line synchronization, this 2025 UserDay highlighted the added value of advanced planning in a constantly changing industrial environment. This article looks back at the highlights of these presentations, which were a real source of inspiration for industrial planning professionals.
Sanofi: an agile and responsive supply chain
First to speak was the Sanofi Montpellier team, represented by Jad Azouri, Process Improvement Engineer, and Youcef Boudiaf, Global Project Leader, who presented their experience in clinical supply chain management. A major site for Sanofi’s research and development, the Montpellier campus brings together R&D activities for molecules and biological medicines. Faced with the many constraints, uncertainties, and disruptions inherent to the pharmaceutical sector, Sanofi has found a valuable ally in DELMIA Ortems (PS/SRP) for planning and scheduling the production of clinical trials and supplies.
The presentation highlighted how the solution enables timely production, distribution, and supply by taking into account requirements, resource availability (premises, machines, equipment), protocols, ranges, bills of materials, and regulatory constraints. DELMIA Ortems also enables Sanofi to anticipate with a medium- and long-term workload plan, while providing detailed scheduling for the short term.
“DELMIA Ortems makes it possible to simulate different scenarios and accurately validate commitments by relying on realistic data and modeling finite capacity constraints.” – Jad Azouri, Process Improvement Engineer at Sanofi
Sanofi has seen numerous benefits: production and distribution of specific kits for each patient on the right date, on-time supply, digitalization and harmonization of processes with the elimination of numerous spreadsheet files, productivity gains, improved visibility for optimal anticipation, etc. But above all, increased agility to adapt to constraints. A testimonial that demonstrates the concrete impact of advanced planning on operational efficiency in the pharmaceutical sector.
Alcatel Submarine Networks: an end-to-end synchronized schedule
After the world of pharmaceuticals, the UserDay dove into the depths of the oceans with Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN). Matthieu Baduel, Planning Manager at ASN, shared how the company designs, manufactures, and installs submarine telecom networks to connect continents. With three factories located in Calais, Greenwich (near London), and Trondheim (Norway), as well as a fleet of seven cable-laying vessels, ASN faces considerable logistical and planning challenges.
The presentation highlighted the complexity of project-based management (ETO) in a sector where projects can span several years. Faced with this complexity, ASN chose DELMIA Ortems for its Master Planning (from 3 months to 1.5 years), its detailed scheduling, and soon for its S&OP up to 6 years. The synchronization of factory production (cables, repeaters, equipment), supplies, and vessels, as well as load leveling, are key concerns for ASN.
“The schedule is subject to numerous constraints and uncertainties: around thirty tanks with limited capacity, constraints related to the direction of installation, but also numerous disruptions such as bad weather, geopolitical issues, customer changes, or the addition of options.” – Mathieu Baduel, Planning Manager at Alcatel Submarine Networks
The benefits observed by ASN are significant: optimal coordination and synchronization, elimination of Excel files with considerable time savings, and improved processes and data reliability. Moreover, Alcatel Submarine Networks has seen an impact on communication between business lines, which is now clearer and more collaborative, as well as the ability to run “what-if” scenarios for better anticipation, and rapid simulations in the event of incidents.
A testimonial that illustrates how advanced planning can transform the management of complex projects in the submarine telecommunications industry.
Velan: the life of a scheduling solution in the nuclear industry
The third testimonial highlighted the experience of Velan, a specialist in high-performance valves for the nuclear industry. With 350 employees, €478 million in revenue, and over 600,000 valve devices sold in 64 countries, Velan operates in a sector subject to numerous constraints with regard to certification, authorization, resource qualification, and manufacturing quality control. Bernard Damien, Planning Engineer at Velan, presented the evolution of the use of DELMIA Ortems within the company from 2011 to the present day. An evolution in three distinct phases that perfectly illustrates the challenges involved in implementing and maintaining a planning solution in a demanding industrial environment.
“We incrementally implemented features such as simulations of new projects to anticipate workload, workload schedules and control lists for workshops, enhancement of business line rules, revenue projection, identification of the last missing item, critical path analysis, and priority arbitration.” – Bernard Damien, Planning Engineer at Velan
After a difficult period during the COVID-19 crisis, marked by a loss of expertise in the solution and a decline in performance, Velan took back control of DELMIA Ortems in 2022, correcting interfaces and improving data and performance. The benefits observed are clear: a significant improvement in adherence to machining, welding, and assembly schedules, increased production volumes, a 20% increase in revenue, and a noticeable improvement in schedule reliability. A testimonial that highlights the importance of a continuous improvement approach in the use of planning solutions!
Laboratoires Science et Nature: digitalizing the schedule for organic cosmetics
The UserDay concluded with a testimonial from Christelle Bellouard, Scheduling Specialist at Laboratoires Science et Nature, which designs, manufactures, and packages organic cosmetic, hygiene, and cleaning products. With over 1,300 finished products under its own brands and customized ranges, 250 permanent employees and 35 temporary workers on site, as well as 1,200 independent home-based sales representatives, LSN has had to overcome numerous challenges in terms of planning and scheduling.
The presentation detailed the specific constraints faced by LSN: synchronization of production and packaging, management of expiry dates, synchronization constraints, maturation management, changeover and washing times, and the availability of raw materials and labor. Faced with these challenges, LSN chose DELMIA Ortems PS, installed in 2018, to optimize its planning processes.
“An integrated “From flower to bottle” value chain requires perfect synchronization between production and packaging, while managing the specific constraints associated with organic products.“- Christelle Bellouard, Scheduling Officer at Laboratoires Science et Nature
The benefits seen by LSN are numerous. There has been an improvement in service level and customer satisfaction. Constraints are now better formalized, and planning/scheduling processes digitalized. Finite capacity production sequences are optimized with a realistic plan. Changeover times are reduced. Visibility over advances and delays per customer has been improved. Collaboration between the Sales, Production, Purchasing, and Quality teams has been strengthened. Finally, uncertainties are effectively taken into account through rapid analysis of their consequences. This testimonial illustrates how advanced planning can transform operations in the organic cosmetics industry.
If you enjoyed this article, check out more testimonials from customers sharing their experiences in the following article: How Digital Simulation is Transforming Industry.
Lionel Agostini has 25+ years in business development, in the high-tech industry, in both developed and emerging markets. Lionel is passionate about helping manufacturing companies innovate through Digitalization, and by doing so, delivering significant value. During his various positions with leading Software companies, Lionel had the chance to cover different regions of Europe, Middle East & Africa, and more recently extending his role, to Americas and AsiaPAC, as global sales leader at Delmia , a Dassault Systemes’ brand. Lionel is a graduate of Paris School of Business, and also a Master degree in High Tech Management from Marseille University.