Location: 76297 Waiblingen, Germany · Industry: around 1,000 within prototyping department · Products: Chainsaws and motorized garden tools · ERP: SAP ERP, Ariba · Website: https://www.stihl.com · S4P modules: AVO, APS, BDE
Context
ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG, headquartered in Waiblingen, Germany, develops and manufactures chainsaws and motorized garden tools with around 1,000 employees within prototyping department. In a demanding environment of additive manufacturing, metalworking and electronics, transparency, reliable production data and stable production control are decisive for quality, delivery reliability and operational efficiency. Development and prototype production at STIHL is characterized by complex processes, short innovation cycles and demanding requirements in metal processing (including magnesium machining), additive manufacturing and electronics (including battery cells). In addition to a high level of in-house production, the company has over 300 suppliers for components and entire assemblies. In this environment, the need for continuous real-time data from order processing is growing in order to be able to assess conditions, progress and deviations quickly and reliably.
Challenge
Without sufficient transparency in order processing due to many isolated solutions, it becomes much more difficult to reliably monitor development and prototype construction processes, to detect malfunctions at an early stage and to make well-founded make-or-buy decisions. In a complex production environment where "time = money" and there are high quality requirements, this requires a digital transformation of the entire order processing process in close connection to the existing SAP ERP.
Solution
Together with Stihl, S4P implemented a web-based customer order cockpit for the approximately 600 designers, connected to PTC Creo. Here, designers can very easily define and monitor their requirements for prototype parts. At Stihl, eight order managers make the respective make-or-buy decision in prototype construction, where any customer-order-related mix is possible. In the event of a buy decision, the specified suppliers automatically receive an e-mail notification with access to the SharePoint and access to all necessary data, such as CAD drawings. An offer must be submitted as a PDF in an order-related structure so that a detailed cost breakdown in terms of supply chain management is possible. After comparing offers in S4P, the decision and creation of a purchase repurchase agreement are made via SAP or Ariba with corresponding order processing until goods are received by Stihl. In in-house production, the master craftsman areas from mechanical production to additive manufacturing to SMD production are mapped directly in terms of system technology from work process planning, detailed planning to the structured recording of production data. As a result, the complete control loop from development, prototype construction and procurement to in-house production is mapped in one system and interlinked with the surrounding IT systems.
Results and Benefits
Better availability and usability of data in order processing make it possible to plan, control and evaluate all supply chain processes with greater transparency. This supports faster reactions to deviations, improves the database for detailed planning and creates an important basis for Stihl's innovation and competitiveness in the future.
Learn more
Relevant solutions for this reference are MES/APS factory software for digital production and 4BDE for intelligent production data acquisition. These solutions help to make production data usable, create transparency and improve manufacturing processes on a data-driven basis.