Discrete Manufacturing
Engineered-to-Order: a challenge for procurement
Machine builders depend on supply customer-specific solutions in small series. Often, variants and country or customer-specific requirements are considered in advance during the design phase. Consequently, it is characteristic of the industry that no two machines are alike.
For the buyer, this means that it is difficult to predict which parts he will have to buy, let alone keep in stock. Another characteristic is that in some cases over 70 per cent of the parts are purchased: A machine builder can't make everything by himself.
This means that purchasing has a great influence on the cost price and contributes significantly to profitability and competitive strength for supply chain planning in the manufacturing industry. Transparent and lean material management — including an accurate bill of materials — is, therefore, an important success factor in mechanical engineering.
Our discrete manufacturing solutions, which are fully integrated into SAP, offer a well-thought-out and user-friendly requirements analysis for inventory management. In the inventory management dashboard, the warehouse stocks and data such as safety stock, order date, stock value, slow mover, etc. are visible at a glance and it is immediately clear where intervention is required. Based on an ABC and XYZ analysis, the materials are grouped and the MRP parameters can be optimized per group. The result of the applied parameters can then be simulated. The "Operations" module is the perfect tool for day-to-day business in purchasing: all important information at a glance, including an automated processing sequence and a warning system that indicates upcoming bottlenecks at an early stage. More security and transparency with simultaneous optimization of stock and safety stocks is not possible.
Not convinced yet? Then take a look at our case study of CLAAS!
Managing increasing material volumes without extra personnel

Because of its high export ratio, the German agricultural engineering industry is heavily dependent on international developments - and not only on the agricultural sector as the buyer of its products. Alongside ever-stiffer competition caused by globalization, the protectionist policy of the USA, the sanctions between the EU and Russia and unclear trade relations with the United Kingdom owing to Brexit all pose challenges to the agricultural engineering industry. In order to be able to respond with agility and solid supply-chain processes to these increasingly complex market conditions, European market leader in agricultural machine manufacturing have opted for our certified SAP add-ons to optimize discrete manufacturing in supply chain management within the SAP production process.
Other references
Tool Machines - Controlling & Operations
Conveying technology, cooling lubricant systems, components and plastics processing - Operations
Machinery for Mining - Planning
Industrial sewing machines for garment, leather, upholstery, shoes and technical textiles - Controlling & Operations
Plant and machinery construction - Forecast, Controlling & Operations
Cold-formed metal parts - Operations
Power tools - Controlling & Operations
Spindle technology, system technology and direct drive technology - Controlling & Operations
Milling machines, manufacturing systems, crankshaft and camshaft machines - Controlling & Operations
Electrical Discharge Machines (EDM), high-speed and high-performance Milling machines, 3D Laser surface texturing machines - Controlling
Tractor transaxles systems - Controlling & Operations
Tool machines - Controlling
Specialist machines for the rubber, tyre and edible oil industry - Controlling & Operations
Printing presses, platesetters, printing software - Controlling, Operations & Planning
Machines for Polyurethane Products - Controlling
Compressor technology, drive technology, hydraulics - Controlling, Operations & Planning
Woodworking machinery - Controlling, Operations & Planning
Mechanical engineering for environmental technology and office technology - Controlling & Operations
Hydraulics - Controlling, Operations & Planning
Spring-applied brakes, electromagnetic clutches / brakes and electrical accessories - Controlling & Operations
Forklift truck - Controlling & Operations
Document Processing Systems - Controlling & Operations
Construction equipment, Mining equipment, Forestry equipment and Industrial machinery - Controlling & Operations
Machine Tools for Paper- and Plastics Processing - Controlling & Operations
Glass-Processing Machines - Controlling & Operations
Machining Technology - Controlling & Operations
Agricultural machinery, semi trailers, trailers, tippers, box vehicles, swap systems and others - Controlling, Operations & Planning
Analyzing & Testing, Grinding & Dispersing, Pumps & Systems - Controlling, Operations, Planning
Clutches, Brakes and Plates - Controlling & Operations
End-of-line pharmaceutical and cosmetic packaging - Controlling & Operations
Braking systems - Controlling & Operations
Print finishing - Operations
Street sweepers - Forecast, Controlling & Operations
Cable Processing - Controlling, Operations & Planning
Ultrasonic metal welding - Controlling & Operations
Concrete mixer - Forecast, Controlling, Operations & Planning
Industrial machine manufacturing - Controlling & Operations
Grinding Machines - Controlling & Operations
Mid- and High-Voltage Machinery - Controlling & Operations
Grinding and eroding machines - Controlling, Operations & Planning
Construction equipment - Controlling & Operations
Wire and Tube Working Machines - Controlling & Operations
Vehicle Washing Facilities - Controlling & Operations
Individual cutting machines, food robots and derinding and skinning machines - Controlling & Operations