OverviewLean processes and short lead times: Greater efficiency in the purchasing process
top xRM and Wieland-Werke AG
Wieland relies on top xRM to digitize its business processes.
Wieland-Werke AG redefined some of its contract finishing processes as part of a restructuring program. The company does not carry out this production process itself, but outsources it to a supplier, the so-called contract finisher.
The challenge
In addition to sales activities, the sales team was also responsible for purchasing activities. In future, this process was to be handled centrally by a purchasing department. The result was a complex process involving many different departments such as sales, purchasing, work preparation, production, quality assurance, logistics and shipping. In addition, the departments are located at different sites.
When analyzing the process, the project team identified great potential in the area of throughput times. The use of cross-departmental workflows was intended to achieve greater transparency and a consistent flow of information. In addition, the system should automatically inform employees about upcoming work packages.
Wieland also took the opportunity to regulate and clearly communicate existing responsibilities and substitutions. As the SAP standard lacks a higher-level process control for this process, the project team decided to use an integrated solution based on SAP Folders Management. All documents were to be bundled and made available on a central platform. Supplemented with existing and new SAP functions, the new system now maps the entire process.
Project goals: streamlined processes, short throughput times, plausibility checks, more transparency
Solution
The solution was presented as an order file based on top xRM from top flow. The SAP add-on is implemented without interfaces and works without complex subsystems. top xRM is based on SAP Folders Management and in this case uses the company’s own templates for sales and purchasing files. For Wieland, this results in the advantages of an SAP-integrated solution that supports the relevant business processes. The project team attached great importance to eliminating media disruptions. The decision in favor of the add-on from top flow GmbH was based on the functional scope, the high flexibility of the application and the positive experience gained with top flow in previous projects.
Result
“The contract processing files have helped to transparently map a process that is distributed across several locations and departments and to document the processing without gaps. After more than 5000 processed files, the contract processing files can be considered a complete success,” says Andreas Schliefer Dipl.-Wirt.-Inf. (BA).
From the left: Andreas Heckele (SAP FM expert), Andreas Schliefer (project manager)
The SAP Folders Management project manager at Wieland adds: “The file has not only significantly optimized the process flow in purchasing, but has also contributed to improved communication and faster information for everyone involved. The implementation of the project took full account of the LEAN concept.”
Benefit
- Increased efficiency thanks to streamlined processes and faster throughput times.
- The file controls the process.
- Complete documentation of a process with all receipts, data, documents and e-mail communication on a central platform increases the overview and transparency.
- Fast review process for audits.
- Competent appearance towards business partners, because all necessary information is available at all times.
Wieland-Werke AG
- Location: Ulm
- Industry: Metal processing
- Turnover: € 2.5 billion in 2016
- Foundation: 1820
- Employees: around 6,700 worldwide
- Internet: www.wieland.de
Success Story top xRM – Wieland
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