Abespoke ERP system from CSB-System is contributing to the successful growth of one of Germany’s leading foodservice suppliers. The Sander Group is a market leader in the production and supply of convenience products to restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, canteens and schools, with current sales of 80 million euros.
A key element supporting this growth has been the introduction of fully integrated industry-specific software from CSB, replacing previous standalone solutions. Benefits throughout the operation include eliminating duplication of data entry in production and inventory. Data from goods receiving, in the warehouse, production and stocktaking is captured on scanners or at CSB-Racks, special industrial PCs.
As well as greater efficiency, this ensures higher process quality and more visible information because all data immediately goes to the ERP system. The CSB-Racks are also used for batch processing of raw materials, providing precise on-screen instructions for ingredients and cooking processes to ensure only correct products are transferred to the packaging machines. The software also documents every work step and inventory posting so the entire creation process can be traced via a batch number.
This high level of transparency is equally beneficial in production planning in Sander’s fresh produce factory, which produces 2,500 menu components in 12 product categories. Key challenges are products’ short shelf-life, recipe ingredients often being produced separately in different departments before being combined, and the need to respond quickly to ad hoc orders.
CSB’s production planning system combines efficient scenario planning with flexible response mechanisms. Plans can be modified quickly for short-term orders or unscheduled machine downtime, while the effects of variation from the plans on all other resources remain manageable.
The effective interaction between production planning and other CSB modules has also enabled a high level of automation with minimised throughput times. Daily production statements facilitate greater cost transparency, providing managers with an overview of all key data, in particular allowing gross margins to be easily checked, particularly important for Sander, who deal with permanently changing meat and fruit prices.
The CSB system has also enabled telephone sales to go paperless, with customer information and contact details available in the system and displayed on-screen, saving salespeople up to 60 minutes each day in manual inputting and checking.
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