High Tech in Aluminium - High Quality Software from ABAS

Horst Witte Gerätebau
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To similarly maintain flexibility and precision, operating a modular concept provides the ideal prerequisite. Appendant parts libraries and special design programs facilitate and accelerate the fixture construction on screen considerably. On the basis of the modular Alufix Systems, the Horst Witte Gerätebau has developed a parts library running in CATIA and AutoCad. Added is the abas Business Software (ERP, PPC, MRP, eBusiness) which simplifies the complete construction and design process.

"Fix" designs systems for the industrial production

The company, founded in 1969, started out as a subcontractor of precision components for the aviation and aerospace industry and the medical engineering technology sector. In the course of the company history a further focal point was added: the design and production of workpiece clamping systems and special machining tools. Witte has tapped a market niche and secured a leading position in this sector. Virtually all leading car producers worldwide belong to their international circle of customers. The products, which are in large parts made from high-strength aluminium, are manufactured on state-of-the-art machines. The manufacture of up to 12 meter long parts belongs to the range of production as well as the precision machining of extremely thin-walled, low-strength components. More than 100 patents and utility-model patents are witness to the trendsetting innovations from Bleckede. Branch offices in Chemnitz, Germany, a subsidiary company in Singapore and representatives in Cordoba (Argentina) as well as a widespread dealer network provide for the worldwide distribution of Witte products. In 1990 the company moved to a new production facility in Bleckede, which provides ample space for the continually growing business and gives scope for expansion. Witte now employs 150 staff. The company is managed by the founders of the Enterprise, Horst Witte and Andreas Witte.

"COMET" replaced…

At Witte, IT began with the introduction of the COMET software package. In 1996, the proprietary computer system with slightly outdated technology was bursting at the seams. The question arose, as to which decision would make more commercial sense: Refurbishing or investment in a new system? After an exploratory phase of 6 months, the company decided in the autumn of 1996 to replace COMET with an up-to-date and more flexible solution. Prior to the start of the project it was already established that Witte wanted to engage a competent partner, who would remain with the task from the organization analysis to the implementation of the system. The highest priority, besides a standardized conceptual design in all working planes and for all sectors (CAD/CAM, ERP/PPC, company accounting), was the guaranteed future of the system and the network concept. A further criterion was that the hardware had to be compatible with internationally recognized standards. "This is the only way it will be possible to seamlessly insert new technologies into the overall structure in the future", says Andreas Witte. Essential requirements for deciding the issue were, among others,

• unrestricted configuration of screens, forms and analyses
• transfer of master files and dynamic data from COMET
• user interface alternatively graphical or alphanumerical
• integration of workflow processes
• integrated archive system
• management of editable sales order parts lists
• linking of a paternoster depot
• interfaces for CAQ, CAD and PDC.

Decision for abas ERP

Thorsten Wendt, responsible for IT at Witte: "The more presentations we conducted, the more competent we became in analysing the bids. We nearly had already made a provisional decision, when our attention was drawn towards ABAS Software AG from Karlsruhe, Germany. We immediately noticed the flexibility of the abas Business Software. Many requirements of our program specification were already included in the standard. What especially impressed us was, how the specialists from ABAS and the northern Germany sales partner ISG - who answered all our questions ad hoc - carried out adjustments during a coffee break and then presented, for example, screens, conforming exactly to our requirements. Further areas like dialog functions, evaluations and lists, documents and forms, screens and help texts, database access and others were tailored individually to the requirements of the company through the flexible standard interface . With very little effort and cost, changes in organizational structures can be modelled, e.g. to transfer proven operational processes into the system. The abas solution impressed particularly through the fact, that with the abas Business Software it was possible to integrate already existing systems, e.g. the CAD. The implementation started at the end of September, 1996. In the test phase, the data from the "old" system were transferred into abas ERP and via the demo client tested, edited and activated.

Today at Version 11 using Linux

Witte got on board with Version 7 and now Version 11 is used. In 1997, Linux replaced the previous operating system Unix. "Besides cost advantages, evidence relating to ABAS regarding the reliability and stability of Linux systems particularly appealed to us", says Andreas Witte. The system runs failure-free in everyday work.

From project management to invoicing

Before the recording of new sales orders, the project will be created in the program area project management, whereas all known data about future or existing projects, contacts to planers, e.g. from visit reports, are recorded. If a bid leads to an order, the already recorded ´dummies` become the genuine article. Via the parts list for the ordered unit the order structure is created, which for readily sold systems will be adopted without change, whereas the engineering department deals with modifications resulting from special customer requirements. In the design office the parts lists will be adjusted, the drawings will be produced on CAD screens and the parts lists in abas ERP specified. Scheduling will be started which will check the material availability on all planes. Proposals go to purchasing and production.
When parts have to be manufactured, production orders for the modules are generated. At the same time the work schedule for all required work cycles is created. If insufficient material is available, purchasing becomes active, which checks the automatic order suggestions and orders the required materials, taking into consideration the respective lead times. For the production management, the generated , up-to-date production proposals are always available. When the sales order has been reported as completed, the paternoster shuttle is automatically accessed and the goods are made available for delivery. For the delivery, the packing slip and invoice creation will be generated and the data are automatically transferred to financial accounting.

Transparency attained

Since the adoption of abas Business Software some success has been achieved at the organizational level:

• Operational processes have become more transparent and were optimized through the use of an integrated mail system and the setting up of workflow processes
• Setup of a sales information system
• Setup of a production history
• Flexible adaptation to organizational conditions

Andreas Witte: "With abas ERP we have reached our target and have today at our disposal a clearly structured ERP solution, which optimally supports all business processes at any time and supplies all data and information needed in our organization at each required level. We now have the necessary flexibility to be able to react to future customer and legal requirements. Notwithstanding the specific adaptation to the operational needs , our company is always able to participate per upgrade in technical developments and enhancements - and the individuality of our application remains. Through the enhanced transparency it is now possible to operate in a much more flexible manner."