Key Challenges:
- Reliance on manual reporting without a standardized
- Reactive operations due to limited inventory visibility
- Fragmented data silos and inefficiency
Key Results:
- 62% reduction in the value of past-due requirements.
- 38% reduction in current material shortages.
- 94% Clear to Build (CTB) rating, representing a 58% increase in production readiness.
- 30–45 minutes saved per day per team member by eliminating manual list-building.
Overview
Haskel, a leader in pump systems for the oil and gas industry and hydrogen skid modules, faced a common industry hurdle: their ERP system provided plenty of data but very little actionable visibility. By implementing APEX by LeanDNA, Haskel transformed a reactive supply chain culture into a proactive, data-driven environment. Over nine months, the team has significantly reduced shortages and is on track to boost Customer On-Time Delivery (COTD) even further.
The Challenge: Moving Beyond Static ERP Reports
Before APEX, Haskel’s procurement and planning teams were stuck in a cycle of manual reporting. They relied on ERP (JD Edwards) reports that offered no central way to visualize supplier performance or upcoming risks.
“There was no centralized data or dashboard to visually see and manage value or quantity for suppliers or buyers,” Stephen Scott, Supply Chain Manager at Haskel
This lack of visibility made the team reactive to overdue/late orders with no way to look ahead to see what’s due. This gap in foresight frequently led to delays in customer on-time delivery.
The Solution: Going Beyond BI tools
Haskel sought a solution that went beyond standard business intelligence tools. While they had previously used tools like Tableau, they chose APEX by LeanDNA for its specialized focus on manufacturing. APEX is an AI-Powered Supply Planning solution that transforms supply planning with real time intelligence, collaboration with suppliers, and prescriptive optimization.
To bridge the gap between planning and execution, Haskel focused on several key initiatives:
- Standardizing Inventory Management: APEX provided the central dashboard the team was missing, allowing them to visually manage inventory value and quantity by supplier or buyer.
- Prioritization through Clear to Build (CTB): While previous efforts like PFEP and ABC/XYZ analysis were successful, they required labor-intensive monthly reviews. APEX’s CTB functionality took this a step further. CTB gives production planners visibility into which parts are preventing orders from becoming ready to build, which enables planners and buyers to better collaborate and prioritize orders to improve COTD.
Supplier Onboarding: Haskel didn't just keep the data internal; they onboarded a few key suppliers to the platform to support real-time delivery information and risk management.
The Results: Regaining Control of the Supply Chain
The implementation led to a dramatic shift in both efficiency and performance metrics. APEX helped the team regain control over shortages and open orders, many of which were previously weeks overdue without the team’s knowledge.
- Dramatic Shortage Reduction: Material shortages dropped by 38%, and the value of past-due requirements plummeted by 62%.
- Production Readiness: Their Clear to Build (CTB) metric rose by 58%, reaching a 94% success rate. Similarly, Clear to Customer (CTC) reached 93%, a 51% improvement.
- Operational Efficiency: Beyond the high-level metrics, the team gained back valuable time. Stephen estimates a conservative savings of 30 to 45 minutes per day per person, previously spent "pulling together a full list of overdue items and deciding if these are genuine".
What’s Next
Haskel is continuing to refine their use of APEX, with plans to further develop their Supplier Scorecards. With better visibility into their production plan and regained control over shortages, they are firmly on track to reach their goal of >96% customer OTD.
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