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Month: May 2020

Case Study: Advanced Planning & Scheduling at Leuze Electronic

Posted on by David Priestman

By Michael Schüler, Leuze electronic, and Dr. Bernd Reineke, Abels & Kemmner

Leuze electronic no longer optimizes its purchasing and production decisions with ERP as in the past, but on the basis of the Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) tool DISKOVER from SCT. This provides much more accurate sales forecasts. Leuze electronic is not only impressed by the sophisticated rule sets and scheduling algorithms; working with the tool is also straightforward and extremely convenient. Management consultancy Abels & Kemmner supported the implementation.

Leuze electronic is a specialist manufacturer and provider of measuring and switching sensors, image processing and data transmission solutions, as well as components and systems. More than 1200 Sensor People at 24 locations worldwide are employed in development, production, sales and service, supported by more than 40 sales partners worldwide.

Creating a link between inventory planning and delivery reliability
Looking to optimize its high delivery readiness still further without tying up too much capital in inventories, Leuze was searching for a way to make its inventory planning more transparent in relation to the required delivery reliability. Such transparency is necessary to be able to make more informed decisions about how to adjust the degree of delivery readiness, also from a capital point of view. This is essential for sound business planning, opening up the ability to view and control inventories also from an overall enterprise perspective in line with relevant KPIs. The previously used ERP system was not fully fit for that purpose. It provided comparatively basic forecasting procedures that made it possible to establish current levels of delivery readiness and to set defaults, for example at least 95%. However, it was not possible to transparently show which materials had to be kept in stock, and in which quantities, to guarantee this readiness.

Parallel implementation of ERP and APS systems
The goal was to link the two KPIs ‘inventory’ and ‘level of delivery readiness’ more closely than in the past, and to manage them transparently. With Leuze already having decided to switch over to SAP at its company headquarters, they could certainly have used the SAP planning tool. However, as this would have proved more expensive and because of the team’s firm conviction that APS tools are overall better suited to these needs, the decision fell on the DISKOVER tool from SCT. This turned out to be the perfect solution for linking the two KPIs and simulating different scenarios based on various forecasts and safety stock levels. As a rule, this leads to smaller inventories while the delivery readiness remains the same or even goes up.

Inter-company functionality across multiple sites
The inter-company planning functions of the new APS tool were particularly attractive for Leuze electronic who use them for light barriers, barcode readers and other devices purchased from Leuze assembly, a German subsidiary based in Unterstadion. With DISKOVER, the transparent data exchange between different ERP systems wanting to seamlessly synchronize their scheduling procedures can be organized as if it were one factory. This requires support of all types of ERP systems. Leuze’s APS system has the required flexibility and integration capability as the Unterstadion site still uses InforLN.

 

Case Study: Advanced Planning & Scheduling at Leuze Electronic

Posted on by Keith McKinley

By Michael Schüler, Leuze electronic, and Dr. Bernd Reineke, Abels & Kemmner

Leuze electronic no longer optimizes its purchasing and production decisions with ERP as in the past, but on the basis of the Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) tool DISKOVER from SCT. This provides much more accurate sales forecasts. Leuze electronic is not only impressed by the sophisticated rule sets and scheduling algorithms; working with the tool is also straightforward and extremely convenient. Management consultancy Abels & Kemmner supported the implementation.

Leuze electronic is a specialist manufacturer and provider of measuring and switching sensors, image processing and data transmission solutions, as well as components and systems. More than 1200 Sensor People at 24 locations worldwide are employed in development, production, sales and service, supported by more than 40 sales partners worldwide.

Creating a link between inventory planning and delivery reliability
Looking to optimize its high delivery readiness still further without tying up too much capital in inventories, Leuze was searching for a way to make its inventory planning more transparent in relation to the required delivery reliability. Such transparency is necessary to be able to make more informed decisions about how to adjust the degree of delivery readiness, also from a capital point of view. This is essential for sound business planning, opening up the ability to view and control inventories also from an overall enterprise perspective in line with relevant KPIs. The previously used ERP system was not fully fit for that purpose. It provided comparatively basic forecasting procedures that made it possible to establish current levels of delivery readiness and to set defaults, for example at least 95%. However, it was not possible to transparently show which materials had to be kept in stock, and in which quantities, to guarantee this readiness.

Parallel implementation of ERP and APS systems
The goal was to link the two KPIs ‘inventory’ and ‘level of delivery readiness’ more closely than in the past, and to manage them transparently. With Leuze already having decided to switch over to SAP at its company headquarters, they could certainly have used the SAP planning tool. However, as this would have proved more expensive and because of the team’s firm conviction that APS tools are overall better suited to these needs, the decision fell on the DISKOVER tool from SCT. This turned out to be the perfect solution for linking the two KPIs and simulating different scenarios based on various forecasts and safety stock levels. As a rule, this leads to smaller inventories while the delivery readiness remains the same or even goes up.

Inter-company functionality across multiple sites
The inter-company planning functions of the new APS tool were particularly attractive for Leuze electronic who use them for light barriers, barcode readers and other devices purchased from Leuze assembly, a German subsidiary based in Unterstadion. With DISKOVER, the transparent data exchange between different ERP systems wanting to seamlessly synchronize their scheduling procedures can be organized as if it were one factory. This requires support of all types of ERP systems. Leuze’s APS system has the required flexibility and integration capability as the Unterstadion site still uses InforLN.

 

Safety Specialist Elokon Enhances Proximity Detection System

Posted on by David Priestman

The supplier of safety and assistance systems for intralogistics, Elokon, has launched a number of innovations and enhanced features for its proximity detection and warning system ELOshield. These include the company’s first commercially available wearable in the form of a smart vest, new pedestrian modules and ELOshieldSPEED; an automatic system for reducing the speed of industrial vehicles across extensive areas in the warehouse. Due to the cancellation of many industry events for the foreseeable future, Elokon has set up a dedicated section on its website which contains detailed information, videos and interviews with company personnel about these new developments: highlights.elokon.com

The technology integrated into the new smart safety vest not only enhances safety for employees when working in the vicinity of forklifts, AGVs and cobots, but also offers maximum comfort and unhampered mobility. This intelligent and connected piece of workwear incorporates all the functions of ELOshield’s pedestrian modules. It sends out visual, acoustic and haptic warning signals to the wearer as soon as they encroach the danger zone, preventing any risk of collisions. The ISO-certified hi-vis vest is made of lightweight soft shell material and comes in a range of sizes.

The company now offers two versions of its ELOshield pedestrian modules for more customer flexibility. They communicate by radio with the ELOshield modules fitted to industrial vehicles, ensuring optimum employee protection by emitting acoustic, haptic and flashing warnings when they enter a danger zone. Both modules are particularly compact, weighing just either 110g or 140g and the choice comes down to the length of battery time required: the smaller one-shift module will work for around 12 hours and the slightly larger two-shift version has a capacity of around 20 hours. The new modules are freely configurable, can be combined with each other and can be set up for different groups of people, such as warehouse staff or visitors.

Keeping extensive areas in the warehouse safe and secure can be problematic but this issue has now been solved following the introduction of ELOshield’s new functionality ELOshieldSPEED. This enables individual danger zones – such as entire halls or long aisles with specific entrances and exits, to be defined and requires no intervention from the driver. Vehicles entering these zones are automatically slowed down to the designated speed, and their original speed is automatically resumed once they exit the zone.

Safety Specialist Elokon Enhances Proximity Detection System

Posted on by David Priestman

The supplier of safety and assistance systems for intralogistics, Elokon, has launched a number of innovations and enhanced features for its proximity detection and warning system ELOshield. These include the company’s first commercially available wearable in the form of a smart vest, new pedestrian modules and ELOshieldSPEED; an automatic system for reducing the speed of industrial vehicles across extensive areas in the warehouse. Due to the cancellation of many industry events for the foreseeable future, Elokon has set up a dedicated section on its website which contains detailed information, videos and interviews with company personnel about these new developments: highlights.elokon.com

The technology integrated into the new smart safety vest not only enhances safety for employees when working in the vicinity of forklifts, AGVs and cobots, but also offers maximum comfort and unhampered mobility. This intelligent and connected piece of workwear incorporates all the functions of ELOshield’s pedestrian modules. It sends out visual, acoustic and haptic warning signals to the wearer as soon as they encroach the danger zone, preventing any risk of collisions. The ISO-certified hi-vis vest is made of lightweight soft shell material and comes in a range of sizes.

The company now offers two versions of its ELOshield pedestrian modules for more customer flexibility. They communicate by radio with the ELOshield modules fitted to industrial vehicles, ensuring optimum employee protection by emitting acoustic, haptic and flashing warnings when they enter a danger zone. Both modules are particularly compact, weighing just either 110g or 140g and the choice comes down to the length of battery time required: the smaller one-shift module will work for around 12 hours and the slightly larger two-shift version has a capacity of around 20 hours. The new modules are freely configurable, can be combined with each other and can be set up for different groups of people, such as warehouse staff or visitors.

Keeping extensive areas in the warehouse safe and secure can be problematic but this issue has now been solved following the introduction of ELOshield’s new functionality ELOshieldSPEED. This enables individual danger zones – such as entire halls or long aisles with specific entrances and exits, to be defined and requires no intervention from the driver. Vehicles entering these zones are automatically slowed down to the designated speed, and their original speed is automatically resumed once they exit the zone.

UK Firm Bids to Transform Home Delivery with New Vehicle

Posted on by Paul Hamblin

A British engineering firm that works with some of the biggest brands in the aerospace and automotive sectors has brought its experience to commercial vehicle bodybuilding in a bid to transform the home delivery sector.

Coventry-based Penso is launching a new range of ultra-lightweight bodies for 3.5-tonne commercial vehicles which have been carefully designed to tackle all issues facing last mile logistics fleets, namely: reducing carbon footprint, driver shortage, tighter legislation, imminent technology advances in alternative fuels and, today more than ever before, increasing customer demand.

The firm’s new ‘Blue Ocean Home Delivery Pods’ offer temperature-controlled and dry freight fleets running 3.5-tonners the ability to carry the same weight of goods in two journeys, that a traditional vehicle delivers in three.

This significant increase, combined with a truly aerodynamic design, improved functionality for drivers, the use of both carbon fibre and recycled plastic, compatibility with diesel, electric and hybrid chassis plus an unparalleled 10-year structural warranty, provides Penso an opportunity to deliver huge efficiency savings for supermarkets, parcel delivery firms and logistics fleets.

The launch is the result of more than 10 years of research by Penso and a £16.3 million investment – half from Penso and half from government matched-funding via the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) and Innovate UK. This has helped to fund the installation of a flexible automated robot assembly line housed in a brand new 50,000 ft2 facility which can produce a finished body every 42 minutes.

Production is commencing with two initial models – an e-Grocery Pod as an upgrade for supermarket deliveries and an e-Delivery Pod, based on a Luton van. Ultimately, 30 different pods will be offered including medium- and high-roof van body variants with a choice of single and double compartments, twin rear doors and side-door loading configurations, plus tail-lift options. These will be built across different wheelbases and vehicle platforms to suit a variety of applications and fleets.

UK Firm Bids to Transform Home Delivery with New Vehicle

Posted on by David Priestman

A British engineering firm that works with some of the biggest brands in the aerospace and automotive sectors has brought its experience to commercial vehicle bodybuilding in a bid to transform the home delivery sector.

Coventry-based Penso is launching a new range of ultra-lightweight bodies for 3.5-tonne commercial vehicles which have been carefully designed to tackle all issues facing last mile logistics fleets, namely: reducing carbon footprint, driver shortage, tighter legislation, imminent technology advances in alternative fuels and, today more than ever before, increasing customer demand.

The firm’s new ‘Blue Ocean Home Delivery Pods’ offer temperature-controlled and dry freight fleets running 3.5-tonners the ability to carry the same weight of goods in two journeys, that a traditional vehicle delivers in three.

This significant increase, combined with a truly aerodynamic design, improved functionality for drivers, the use of both carbon fibre and recycled plastic, compatibility with diesel, electric and hybrid chassis plus an unparalleled 10-year structural warranty, provides Penso an opportunity to deliver huge efficiency savings for supermarkets, parcel delivery firms and logistics fleets.

The launch is the result of more than 10 years of research by Penso and a £16.3 million investment – half from Penso and half from government matched-funding via the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) and Innovate UK. This has helped to fund the installation of a flexible automated robot assembly line housed in a brand new 50,000 ft2 facility which can produce a finished body every 42 minutes.

Production is commencing with two initial models – an e-Grocery Pod as an upgrade for supermarket deliveries and an e-Delivery Pod, based on a Luton van. Ultimately, 30 different pods will be offered including medium- and high-roof van body variants with a choice of single and double compartments, twin rear doors and side-door loading configurations, plus tail-lift options. These will be built across different wheelbases and vehicle platforms to suit a variety of applications and fleets.

Conveyor Specialist cellumation Granted EU Funding

Posted on by David Priestman

Bremen-based conveyor technology specialist cellumation has been granted €2 million in EU funding for further development.

This year, 44 young companies and their innovations were selected by the EIC from close to 2,000 applicants from 40 countries. The funding acknowledges the ‘celluveyor’ as a groundbreaking European innovation for flexible material flow in intelligent logistics centres and factories. “We see the selection as an enormous confirmation and recognition of our work and a confirmation of the great potential of our technology,” says cellumation’s CEO Dr.-Ing. Hendrik Thamer. “The funds will especially be used for the further development of our technology. This will enable us to significantly expand the flexibility and the ap-plication possibilities of the celluveyor.”

The system is based on small hexagonal conveyor modules, each with three particularly arranged wheels. They allow objects to be conveyed in any direction. The conveyor modules with their hexagonal structures can be simply clicked together and combined to any desired conveyor system geometry. Through the single wheel control, the wheels are controlled individually, this enables objects to be moved freely and almost all conveying tasks can be realized with one system. In addition to a flexible design and demand-oriented expansion of the conveyor system, the celluveyor offers increased throughput and up to 95 percent space savings compared to conventional conveyor solutions.

Conveyor Specialist cellumation Granted EU Funding

Posted on by David Priestman

Bremen-based conveyor technology specialist cellumation has been granted €2 million in EU funding for further development.

This year, 44 young companies and their innovations were selected by the EIC from close to 2,000 applicants from 40 countries. The funding acknowledges the ‘celluveyor’ as a groundbreaking European innovation for flexible material flow in intelligent logistics centres and factories. “We see the selection as an enormous confirmation and recognition of our work and a confirmation of the great potential of our technology,” says cellumation’s CEO Dr.-Ing. Hendrik Thamer. “The funds will especially be used for the further development of our technology. This will enable us to significantly expand the flexibility and the ap-plication possibilities of the celluveyor.”

The system is based on small hexagonal conveyor modules, each with three particularly arranged wheels. They allow objects to be conveyed in any direction. The conveyor modules with their hexagonal structures can be simply clicked together and combined to any desired conveyor system geometry. Through the single wheel control, the wheels are controlled individually, this enables objects to be moved freely and almost all conveying tasks can be realized with one system. In addition to a flexible design and demand-oriented expansion of the conveyor system, the celluveyor offers increased throughput and up to 95 percent space savings compared to conventional conveyor solutions.

Gebhardt Appoints MD for Switzerland

Posted on by David Priestman

The Gebhardt Intralogistics Group has named Kim Fabian Schneider as Managing Director of its Swiss subsidiary. With this step, the location will be sustainably strengthened to generate further growth and to expand the sales of innovative warehouse logistics solutions on the Swiss market as well as in the neighbouring countries. The new managing director has gained more than 13 years of industry experience before he became sales and project manager at Gebhardt Switzerland in September 2017. In his new position, the industrial engineer, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Engineering will increase the level of local brand awareness and further establish the subsidiary.

“With the wide Gebhardt product portfolio, I would like to sustainably optimise the internal material flows of Swiss customers in all linguistic regions and neighbouring countries in the future and increase their process reliability and efficiency to be able to secure the decisive advantage for the customer in the end”, said Kim Fabian Schneider. The management believes that, “the market can be served more efficiently through the expanded competencies. The increased proximity to the customers enables a more intensive, personal, but also more efficient onsite support.”

Switzerland is an important economic and industrial nation and offers enormous locational advantages with its links to countries such as France. Machine and system construction are further developing into a key industry and thus constitutes a major economic sector in the country. Gebhardt founded the subsidiary in February 2017.

For more news on appointments in the logistics sector, sign up to our magazine and newsletters here

Gebhardt Appoints MD for Switzerland

Posted on by David Priestman

The Gebhardt Intralogistics Group has named Kim Fabian Schneider as Managing Director of its Swiss subsidiary. With this step, the location will be sustainably strengthened to generate further growth and to expand the sales of innovative warehouse logistics solutions on the Swiss market as well as in the neighbouring countries. The new managing director has gained more than 13 years of industry experience before he became sales and project manager at Gebhardt Switzerland in September 2017. In his new position, the industrial engineer, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Engineering will increase the level of local brand awareness and further establish the subsidiary.

“With the wide Gebhardt product portfolio, I would like to sustainably optimise the internal material flows of Swiss customers in all linguistic regions and neighbouring countries in the future and increase their process reliability and efficiency to be able to secure the decisive advantage for the customer in the end”, said Kim Fabian Schneider. The management believes that, “the market can be served more efficiently through the expanded competencies. The increased proximity to the customers enables a more intensive, personal, but also more efficient onsite support.”

Switzerland is an important economic and industrial nation and offers enormous locational advantages with its links to countries such as France. Machine and system construction are further developing into a key industry and thus constitutes a major economic sector in the country. Gebhardt founded the subsidiary in February 2017.

For more news on appointments in the logistics sector, sign up to our magazine and newsletters here

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