15.07.2023
SAP
As part of an international pharmaceutical company’s worldwide ERP program, global Supply Chain Processes were redesigned and deployed based on an integrated platform.
The primary objectives were harmonization and automation of the Supply Chain Processes. During the initial Phase of this SAP program, global workshops were conducted to redesign these Business Processes.
During the Business Process reengineering phase special attention was paid to the specific needs of the different supply chain business units, including process steps such as process-oriented segmentation of active pharmaceutical ingredient production.
After being validated through a pilot installation the redesigned Business Processes, as well as the supporting ERP tools, became the corporate standard.
These processes provided the basis for the harmonization of the supply chain across the organization.
Key Success Factors:
-
Comprehensive management commitment of the global supply chain organization to expedite the Business Process harmonization within the scope of the ERP program
-
Extensive automation of all information flows within the Supply Chain while improving speed, reducing error rates and increasing transparency
-
Technical integration of existing ERP solutions with SAP
-
Central coordination of all Supply Chain activities for the Roll-out projects
These measures allowed a smooth implementation of the standardized processes in each country. The subsidiaries benefited substantially from the harmonized and automated global processes
The Solution:
The Supply Chain organization consists mainly of the following units: production of active ingredients, pharmaceutical production (compression, packaging, etc.), and subsidiaries selling products within their marketspecific environment.
The global Supply Chain Management organization plays an important role as well; this unit acts as a central hub for the exchange of information and goods.
As part of the implementation project, there was a chance to clearly define and structure the definition of the existing roles assigned to the various Business Units.
A centralized and homogeneous application platform was planned to enable a standardized, automated and efficient flow of information between all SCM units in order to increase process efficiency, reduce error rates and enhance transparency.
Changes to the organization initiated by the standardization of processes were addressed with specific Change Management procedures. The key elements were continuous communication, planned training activities and strong involvement of the key users during the ERP implementation.
Business process harmonization was reinforced through visualization of the ERP processes by creating flow charts at the beginning of the project. These process flows were the basis for the global workshops. Together with business representatives from the different organizational units and geographical regions the process model was evaluated, enhanced and global standards were defined. The early and consistent involvement of key decision makers set the basis for a successful harmonization of the business processes.
During the deployment phase all local and regional projects were continuously supported by a central team which assisted with the implementation of the harmonized global processes in the local organization. The team ensured local processes, such as warehouse management, were addressed and it coordinated all comprehensive restructuring project activities, ensuring a seamless and smooth transition into the new process and system landscape
Seargin Contribution
-
Process and Organization Management: Development of harmonized and segmented SCM processes. Roll-out as part of the ERP implementation project.
-
Automation of SCM Platform: Development of the technical SAP based solution for the automated exchange of supply chain relevant information related to planning- and order-management.
-
Central Coordination of all SCM activities: As part of the regional and local deployment activities, all SCM relevant activities were managed centrally and project milestones were closely aligned.
Why Seargin?
Seargin is a provider of IT consulting and implementation services, specializing in helping businesses optimize their SAP systems and drive digital transformation.
Our SAP consulting services cover a wide range of areas, including system integration, process optimization, and migration to the latest SAP technologies such as S/4HANA.
We work closely with our clients to understand their unique requirements and tailor our solutions to maximize the value they derive from their SAP investments.