Final phase of SAP implementation at Smart Press Shop GmbH & Co. KG
A pressing plant for vehicle body part production that can flexibly adapt to customers’ needs thanks to lean and smart processes: Smart Press Shop GmbH & Co. KG (SPS), a joint venture project between Porsche AG and Schuler AG. Production of aluminum and steel vehicle body parts commenced in March 2021, in Halle (Saale). In LOGzin 2020, LOGSOL reported on the progress of the innovative pressing plant and the joint project with SPS – from concept development through to the tendering phase. Cooperation between the Smart Press Shop project team and LOGSOL GmbH concluded with implementation and ramp-up support.
During this phase, the focus was on:
1. mapping and functionality of logistics processes in the SAP system
2. start-up support
3. installation/commissioning of the logistics technology
1. 100% public cloud-based, integrated SAP system
A special feature of the SAP system, which was also a challenge, was for everything to take place online with SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud and SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud for execution: accessible anytime, anywhere, on any device. Due to the novelty of this system, a lot of custom programming was needed to form the necessary foundation, which in some areas was missing or not available in a usable form. Programming was logistically evaluated and assessed for utility. This required close cooperation between LOGSOL and the SAP service provider, in order to provide the best possible system support for logistics processes.
2. Start-up support
Start-up support comprised workshops in which the processes were discussed and adapted to the start-up phase, involving several areas and in taking into account the SAP system. Because no processes from the existing business were implemented in the Smart Press Shop, and some of the individual divisions only consisted of a few people, there was a high level of dynamism in the design and definition of processes. The challenge for the logistics division was to define the interfaces cleanly, to retain the many special processes in the start-up/commissioning of the company, and to establish these in a serialized process. With its many years of planning expertise, LOGSOL supported the Smart Press Shop logistics team and worked with them to implement the processes. For the LOGSOL colleagues, this support evolved into interim logistics management for several months.
3. Setup for commissioning of the logistics technology
Due to the pandemic and the resulting economic bottlenecks, logistical implementation/planning had to be more flexible than ever. Delays and changes occurred from time to time during the installation of technology, as the logistics technology was not all available at the scheduled time. New solutions had to be found to bridge the supply bottlenecks, especially in the area of IT. However, the installation of the rack system for press equipment, with a storage height of around 12m, proceeded smoothly. The new heavy-duty forklifts (14-tonne 4-way heavy-duty forklift and 13-tonne compact forklift) also found their way to the Smart Press Shop, despite the need for special transport permits. These vehicles underscore the scale at which the Smart Press Shop operates, making the normal reach trucks and front-end forklifts look like toys.