All processes just a click away

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software should help you run all business processes in the most optimised way possible. It forms the core of your activities, providing a central platform for managing all steps of the value chain as quickly and efficiently as possible. Obviously, not every ERP system is suitable for every business. Companies like Enneatech require software that reflects the specific needs of a compounder and producer of recycled materials. This is how the ERP solution PolyERP from the provider KDS came into play – because its focus is on plastics processing.

Up to the end of last year, the company based in Grossefehn had been working with a variety of different platforms to handle its accounting, order management, formula management, production and procurement needs. These systems had been expanded over the years, but still required employees to manually enter and transfer data at various stages with significantly fewer automated processes. This was to change with the introduction of the ERP system. Operations manager Arthur Lange described the commpany’s requirements for the ERP solution as follows: “We decided to make this investment as it offers us a high level of transparency across all work and production processes. We can view the workflow and current status of all orders at any time. For us, it was really important to be able to track each individual batch with a single click. We can see which raw materials were produced on which machines with which parameters, and how they were packed, labelled and delivered.”

Tailor-made solution

The introduction of the new ERP system required some extra work on the part of Enneatech. The specifications for each individual raw material had to be entered into the system and each process had to be recreated digitally. The specifications for each individual raw material had to be entered into the system and each process had to be recreated digitally. All required information – from procurement management, inventory management, formula management, master data management and transport management – is available in one place: the ERP system. On top of this it creates a link to quality assurance, integration of product container weighing before shipment, labelling, and document management.

Lange describes a typical day using the new system: “Our sales department enters an order confirmation into the ERP system that includes the agreed delivery date. Using the stored raw material specifications our production management generates the corresponding formula. Employees fetch the required materials from storage and scan them out. Only raw materials that have been approved by our quality assurance team can be scanned out by our colleagues. All other materials are blocked by the ERP system. Every time materials are scanned out, the inventory is updated. The finished product is then subject to our quality control processes. Weighing at the filling stage is also integrated into the ERP system. The system generates the label with the precise weight, barcode, and container number along with all production data and the specification. Only once they have been approved by the quality assurance team are the goods shipped to the customer.” Based on the orders created, the system determines the amount of required raw materials for procurement. The system also produces the acceptance testing certificates for each individual batch based on the measured values.

The ERP system is linked to the financial accounting software via an interface. This ensures that all data required for incoming and outgoing invoices is automatically sent to the accounting team.

The introduction of this bespoke ERP solution has made it possible to provide end-to-end support for all business transactions and production processes. This means a reduced workload for employees, simpler internal coordination, and perhaps most importantly, a very high degree of process and production reliability with excellent transparency.