Franz Binder GmbH & Co. Elektrische Bauelemente KG relies on the fully SAP®-integrated OPAL LABELMANAGEMENT™ for labelling its products – this simplifies creating and coordinating new labels and significantly reduces the number of variants.
THE CORE PROBLEM
The right label in the right place at the right time
A new logo, an updated address or an additional test mark: roughly twice a week, changes have to be made to the product labels of the family-owned company binder at customers’ request, or completely new labels created. The Neckarsulm-based company specialises in circular connectors that are marketed on five continents.
The previous label system required a CSV data file as a SAP® export for every label – with high demands on the interface regarding timing sequence and data integrity when making changes.
THE SOLUTION
SAP®-integrated label management since autumn 2019
Since autumn 2019, the SAP®-integrated OPAL LABELMANAGEMENT™ solution has been in use at binder and is being rolled out step by step. Since the changeover, around 30 percent of the approx. 1,000 existing layouts have already been converted, simplified or eliminated.
Exploded views, test marks, logos, connection diagrams and product notes are dynamically integrated during label printing. In doing so, OPAL LABELMANAGEMENT™ accesses transaction data and product master data of the SAP® system at various points.
“Operating the OPAL LABELMANAGEMENT™ software is very convenient. I can now also make changes independently of the SAP department and, for example, add additional information or images.”
Joachim Wagner, responsible for label management at binder
THE PROJECT
Efficient changeover – realised in just a few days
“The technical implementation could be completed in just a few days and within the external budget. The collaboration with OPAL’s consultants, who are always reachable both during the project and afterwards, deserves particular mention.”
Daniel Pfeil, Project Manager “Processes and Organisation” at binder
Besides the automated provision of content, the efficient design of the labels is also among the positive effects: the label designer BarTender is an integral part of the solution, and the integrated approval process makes coordination with customers and internal departments easier.
With the convenient label designer, the flood of variants is to be reduced in the medium term from 1,000 to 250–300 versions – a realistic goal according to the project team, since several requirements can be implemented in a single layout.
THE HARDWARE
Investment in modern printers
binder has invested not only in software but also in hardware: at the Neckarsulm headquarters alone, around 1,000 labels are printed per day, and the 70 connected printers were partly renewed or modernised. Besides laser printers and label printers from Zebra around 25 special printers for printing on transparent bags are in use.
- →Existing Autobag and Valentin printers were converted from parallel interfaces to a TCP/IP network – controllable from all stationary Citrix terminals and mobile handheld scanners.
- →Additionally purchased: mobile and stationary direct-thermal printers Zebra ZD420 and ZT230, primarily for logistics and order picking.
“Opened boxes with residual quantities have to be relabelled. The labels have to come out at the touch of a button with the updated quantities, exactly where the order picker needs them.”
Bernd Mager, Head of Logistics at binder
OUTLOOK
Interaction with SAP® EWM
Production and logistics are about to move into the new main plant: the high-bay warehouse there will receive, alongside pallet and container conveyor technology, a fully automatic pallet warehouse and a highly dynamic shuttle warehouse, and will be controlled with SAP® EWM. OPAL LABELMANAGEMENT™ and SAP® EWM will harmonise well here.
FOR YOUR BUSINESS
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