We have transformed and modernized the R&D/Engineering and Product Lifecycle Management for the customer to efficiently manage the product’s lifecycle, engineer, and manufacture its products at the highest level while continuing to innovate.
A manufacturer of consumer goods in the USA.
The business challenge was to transform and modernize the R&D/Engineering and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) experience, in order to leverage data across the entire PLM process.
The project includes managing Documents, CAD data (SOLIDWORKS), Quality Processes, and deploying a modern and flexible Engineering Change Management process that can control the entire Workflow from Product and CAD design across the End-to-End process.
The client was using an outdated computer-aided design (CAD) integration toolset for managing R&D/Engineering data and integrating with SAP. This led to user interface, user experience, and efficiency issues. Due to its complexity and outdated nature, the system was limited to certain Research & Development (R&D) data only; it was time-consuming, and critical functionality was missing. This resulted in difficulties in efficient product’s lifecycle management, engineering, and the ability to manufacture quality products.
The customer deployed the SAP Engineering Control Center (ECTR) Interface to leverage a single, integrated platform for R&D data, enabling a view of all product development information that included planning, purchasing, manufacturing, engineering, and quality teams. The main CAD tool in use is SOLIDWORKS, which is directly integrated via ECTR.
This platform enabled the customer to handle more items in the innovation pipeline. The customer was able to respond to consumer demand faster and more economically. Additionally, the customer was able to scale new item creation, while reducing scrap and rework due to flaws in the current design and process.
The goal was to replace the outdated UI and software with SAP ECTR, which is an SAP solution for which LeverX is the prime authorized partner in North America. SAP ECTR provides the R&D/ Engineering teams an engineering-friendly workspace to design, engineer, and innovate - while connecting the design and engineering data with the business data in SAP.
Additionally SAP’s 3D Visual Enterprise is leveraged to create 3D lightweight visuals that can be used for Manufacturing Planning and creation of Visual Work Instructions. These can improve Manufacturing processes as well as the customer experience for the final assembly of the Consumer Product.
In order to manage engineering changes, it was also critical to deploy a flexible Workflow and Engineering Change Management solution. Programming and hardcoding engineering changes in SAP requires a great deal of development, significant time, money, and highly skilled developers. Instead, the project team opted to use the Integrated Process Solution (IPS) by LeverX. IPS allowed us to quickly modernize and revamp the customer's engineering change management process in a fraction of the time, with the added flexibility to make changes to the workflow as the product’s lifecycle evolves. It is easier and simpler to modify workflow and integrate from ECTR across the PLM process running End-to-End in SAP.
LeverX guided the client every step of the way, not just with our expertise on the solution, processes, and business challenges, but also by being patient and understanding the client’s specific business needs, problem points, and new/old technologies. We used IPS to resolve the immediate business problems, as well as set up future proof processes the customer can control. During the project delivery, we deployed highly skilled engineers and process consultants from LeverX to address the customer’s processes, objectives and implement the new solutions.
The client was extremely pleased with the solutions and consulting expertise delivered by LeverX to successfully implement this critical project. It began at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020) and went live in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic (September 2020). Through all the business and personal challenges, COVID-19 provided, including no on-site travel, switching to fully remote delivery. Despite the obvious challenges everyone experienced working from home while trying to stay sane and healthy - we were able to work hand in hand with the customer to successfully kick-off, deliver and go-live during this challenging time.
The project was delivered on budget, on time, and at the most critical business time in the customer’s history. Due to COVID-19, state-wide lockdowns and the temporary closure of many restaurants, most people remained at home and looked for innovative ways to spend their time - cooking, barbequing, and getting through the pandemic. This company's revenue increased by 40% due to the immediate surge and demand for their products, and we helped the company continue its business operations without any disruptions. The demand for grills and related products has increased internationally, and the customer is actively expanding and continuing to leverage LeverX with this expansion, in order to engineer, manufacture and get their fabulous products into the hands of consumers around the world.
We continue to stay involved with the planning for the 2022 projects moving to S/4HANA. On a personal note for all of us at LeverX, this has been one of the most exciting projects to be part of, since it’s a product we all can relate to. It’s a brand that has been the market leader in this space for nearly 130 years, with its quality and reputation second to none. We are proud of the customer’s accomplishments, our team’s accomplishments, and we look forward to our future involvement with this customer.