PROJECTS

COMPRESSOR ENGINEERING

Condenser and compressor engineering involves many variants and extends from standard units with a serial character to one-offs, e.g. for process gas applications. Development, design and production place different demands on the topics of variant management, organisation of parts lists or CAD-PDM-ERP integration.

Client: Leading manufacturer of condensers and compressors > 1,000 employees

Branch: Compressor engineering

Topic: Offer configuration, overall IT concept, product data migration, SAP PLM, change management, PDM selection/benchmark, variant management

Situation: Replacing the established ERP environment by futureproof standard software initiated this enquiry. Both IT and senior managers had realised that this changeover presented a unique chance for an external consultant to examine established product structures/data, numbering systems and processes critically at an early stage prior to an ERP system changeover and possibly optimise aspects before, during and after the changeover.

Brief:

• Answering the following management questions:
• What do we have to do from the engineering viewpoint prior to the ERP changeover? What should we change or streamline during the roll-out and what can we still change or streamline during the operational roll-out? (In terms of materials master data, classification, configuration logic, parts lists, work schedules, numbering systems, etc.)
• How to we integrate the existing 3D CAD system in the future ERP environment, i.e. via an existing CAD-related PDM system, via a neutral PDM system or in the form of an ERP-related PDM solution?
• What do we need to consider when integrating the offer configurator in the new ERP system?

Result:

• Survey completed within a few days with a finished technical IT concept as a result of a streamlined IT development plan that shows the future role distribution and the integration of the individual systems with each other.
• Functions map, i.e. which functionalities or entities should be mapped in which system in the future?
• The specific areas for action, i.e. details of what has to be prepared in the areas of master data quality, parts lists management, classification, configuration/logic, change management, etc.
• Rough requirements/loads placed on the future common PDM solution from the technical viewpoint
• Basis for decision: CAD-ERP direct connection or indirect PDM solution