Planning for Long-Term Growth
With a planned campus expansion at the Maulburg site, Endress+Hauser is securing long-term development and increasing its production capacity.
This includes extensive restructuring and modernization of existing buildings, as well as the construction of additional facilities. A defined area of available space has already been established—space that must remain sufficient despite significant growth in production volume and ongoing innovation. This will primarily be achieved through optimization of the final assembly areas.
Endress+Hauser is relying on an integrated solution concept developed by io—realigning site logistics with demand-driven space and material flow optimization, new automated storage and transport systems, and SAP EWM for both manual and automated processes.
The goal is to optimize order management and logistics to enable just-in-time delivery to final assembly, while storing the required materials as centrally as possible. A special high-bay warehouse is already under construction—without fire protection systems, as it is oxygen-free.
Space and Material Flow Optimization
io is providing Endress+Hauser with comprehensive support in material flow planning, order management, and the optimization of existing assembly structures. The concept has enabled the creation of a seamless interface between logistics and production.
While io’s Production & Processes division is examining various measures to better utilize available manufacturing space, the Supply Chain & Logistics team is working closely with Endress+Hauser to evaluate different approaches for practical feasibility in the real-world environment.
One example: internal transportation processes have been optimized by consolidating small-parts warehouses and establishing a direct connection to the production line.
Key Facts
Client
Endress+Hauser is a globally leading provider of measurement and automation technology for process and laboratory applications. The family-owned company is headquartered in Reinach, Switzerland.
The challenge
- Limited space availability, including the conversion of existing buildings, amid continuous business growth
- Targeting future-proof, digitalized logistics and production processes
- Automation of two existing warehouses requiring synchronized integration
Solution
- Development and evaluation of optimization measures for production and assembly processes
- Assessment and tendering of suitable logistics solutions
- Automation of logistics processes through the implementation of SAP EWM with MFS
Automated Processes
By transitioning warehouse management from SAP WM to SAP EWM, Endress+Hauser is achieving significantly greater transparency in inventory across raw materials, semi-finished, and finished goods—as well as in their movement between warehouse and production. Numerous manual processes are also being digitized and made more efficient. To support this, the ERP system was migrated to SAP S/4HANA.
Key elements of the new process design include provisioning strategies and the handover of finished goods for shipping. By implementing integrated routing logic, internal warehouse transportation has become more transparent and efficient—reducing lead times and streamlining existing logistics processes.
A particular challenge during implementation was the physical separation of three warehouses, whose processes had to be clearly separated within a single EWM system. High levels of ERP integration further increased the complexity of the project.
Agile Project Approach
In line with the standardized and proven project methodology applied by io, the implementation of SAP EWM follows an agile approach. This ensures that all departments remain continuously informed throughout the process.
It also facilitates effective knowledge transfer, as Endress+Hauser will operate the system independently after a successful go-live. io continues to provide support as needed.
