Yes to steel, no to paper

Existing ERP solution no longer sufficient

Due to the increasing complexity of its increasingly international business, FUHR needed to replace its existing business management software with a more powerful version. In addition, the existing solution did not provide efficient scheduling functionality. Instead, they were using pen and paper and, at best, Excel spreadsheets. In addition, the software was being phased out, with no support or updates available. Eventually, the system would have become hopelessly outdated.

Before this happened, FUHR decided in favor of the powerful Enterprise Resource Planning software Abas ERP. The solution enables efficient control of all business processes and even their simple adjustment during operation. The system is robust, low-maintenance and flexible, which simplifies the integration of further applications. FUHR chose the software and IT experts from MAIT as its partner for the integration. MAIT has been working with Abas since 1996 and is now the largest Abas partner worldwide.

Analysis and consulting as the basis for step-by-step software integration

Prior to the actual software integration, FUHR and MAIT began by analyzing the existing processes and working together to develop what these processes should look like in the future. The core team at FUHR consisted of around ten employees from all areas of the company. In training sessions and workshops with MAIT, a comprehensive concept was developed and it was realized that a step-by-step introduction of Abas ERP would be the best choice in the specific case of FUHR. The software was to be integrated location by location and module by module. Here it became clear that MAIT is not only an IT and software expert, but also offers real process and business consulting.

So it all started with the financial accounting module for all locations. This was followed by the integration of the ERP software in the Netherlands and Great Britain, where FUHR only has trading operations. In the next step, Abas ERP was implemented at the Polish location, where a smaller production unit of the company is located. Finally, the software was integrated at the headquarters in Heiligenhaus. The implementation of Abas ERP there posed the greatest challenges, for example, due to the complex logistics processes, the large vertical range of manufacture and the contract manufacturing with third parties. In short: many participants and just as many processes. However, the "salami tactics" paid off: "We were able to take what we learned from the smaller European organizational units to the FUHR headquarters, where the challenges were greatest," says Kerstin Varro, project manager at MAIT, who managed the implementation of Abas ERP at FUHR.

The go-live in Germany finally took place in 2018. In addition to the Abas ERP standard software, numerous other modules were implemented there, including production control and detailed planning with Abas APS, the document management system Abas DMS and Abas Multisite for efficient control of the FUHR locations. In addition, the MAIT team led by Kerstin Varro integrated Siemens Opcenter for the digitalization and optimization of the entire production process from development to production as well as the HANSALOG personnel software for payroll accounting. A special feature was the integration of MAIT's engomo-based mobile warehouse logistics solution in conjunction with ZEBRA hand scanners. This enabled FUHR to keep track of its extensive internal and external flows of goods between several warehouse locations. This installation is certainly one of the most complex we have ever done with MAIT and we are still supporting it today," says Kerstin Varro of MAIT.

Event convinced, future planned

Today the main application of Abas ERP is running at the German headquarters of CARL FUHR in Heiligenhaus. The international locations work with Abas ERP via the MAIT.Cloud, the MAIT data centre. Thanks to Abas ERP and MAIT, not only scheduling, but also the entire company management functions quickly, securely and reliably. Effort and costs have been successfully reduced and the process accuracy has been significantly increased. In addition, there are the direct advantages of Abas ERP: The worldwide proven product of the renowned software company is future-proof and always up-to-date thanks to regular updates.

FUHR still has a lot of plans: Together with MAIT, FUHR is developing the concept for a permanent inventory system with a hand scanner based on engomo. This will reduce the workload involved in stocktaking at the end of the year. Only those items that have not changed hands during the year need to be counted. In addition, the existing plant data collection system is to be replaced. There are also plans to automate the recording and booking of invoices using document readers, and to digitalize export and dispatch processing. In short, FUHR is planning the paperless factory. And MAIT will definitely be part of it: Why? Stefan Schlüter, Head of Materials Management at FUHR, knows best: 'We simply like working with MAIT. Future-proof solutions, reliability, expertise in many areas, all from a single source and a network of experts. That's what makes MAIT a strong partner for growing international business.