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Reference Report

Röchling Automotive:
SPEEDI maps automotive customer requirements out of the box and integrated in SAP

Röchling Automotive counts almost all car manufacturers worldwide among its customers. It is therefore business-critical for the supplier to handle EDI-based logistics processes with the individual manufacturers smoothly and efficiently, while complying precisely with their specific requirements. This is ensured by the SPEEDI OEM solution packages. They integrate seamlessly into the existing SAP ERP system and map the process requirements and delivery logic of most manufacturers "out of the box".

Photo of the main building of Röchling

The automotive industry is undergoing radical change and previous mobility concepts are being turned upside down. In the future, the main focus will be on reducing emissions and increasing range. To achieve this, it is necessary to reduce driving resistance, for example through lightweight underbody cladding and controllable air flap systems, to increase efficiency through intelligent solutions in the areas of air/water management, cleaning systems, tanks and battery components and to save weight through lightweight construction. And this applies to all drive types - even with bioplastics.

In many cases, the necessary components and systems come from Röchling Automotive, based in Mannheim, which supplies almost all automotive manufacturers (original equipment manufacturers, OEMs) with its innovative, high-quality products. The company, which is part of the Röchling Group, generated sales of almost EUR 1.1 billion in 2020 with over 6,000 employees. Thanks to its global positioning with 41 locations in Europe, Asia, North and South America, the supplier is always close to its customers. This and customer-oriented product development with constant innovation are business-critical factors. 

Gaps in SAP for EDI logistics with OEMs

Efficient and smooth EDI-based logistics processes with OEM customers are just as important for success when it comes to deliveries. The supplier must comply precisely with the individual requirements, which can be very complex, at all times. Customers often also transmit additional data such as the RAN number (Release Authorization Number) or send feedback messages in APERAK or ANSI X-12 format as part of the EDI delivery call-offs or call-offs.

"It is very important for us to incorporate all information transmitted by the OEM via EDI completely and correctly into our SAP ERP system and to pass it through to the shipping module, where it is required for the shipping notification and the error-free labeling of the shipping labels and shipment documents," says Markus Mann, Specialist SAP Business Application SD/HR Global at Röchling Automotive. In many cases, the SAP standard does not cover the requirements of individual manufacturers adequately or at all and cannot process certain EDI messages such as ANSI X12 feedback messages. To do this, the SAP system would have had to be extensively adapted through customizing settings and individual programming.

OEM processes out of the box and in SAP

Those responsible were therefore looking for a simpler and more efficient alternative. They found it in the SPEEDI OEM solutions provided by WSW Software, which integrate seamlessly into the SAP system and extend it without modification. They map the logistics requirements, call-off logic and special procedures of most car manufacturers "out of the box" and also provide the necessary labels and forms as well as the corresponding print programs.

Automatically feed through additional data

Two practical examples show the concrete benefits that Röchling Automotive derives from this. The US company of a major Japanese OEM, which has several production sites in the USA, transmits additional data to suppliers such as Röchling Automotive. This additional data, such as the LOT sequence and project number and the Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC), must also be included on the shipping notification as well as on labels and forms.

With a SPEEDI-solution, which WSW Software provides for the special requirements of this OEM, Röchling Automotive handles the processes in the SAP standard: from mapping the additional data and integrating it into the SAP scheduling agreements to issuing the shipping notification and labeling the accompanying documents.

 The OEM solution provides the necessary functions for ANSI X12 messages as well as routines and plug-ins. Monitors also clearly visualize purchase orders, orders, delivery call-offs and detailed call-offs, processing confirmations and deliveries including status messages via ANSI X12 feedback message (type 997).

"The end-to-end process handling in SAP also contributed significantly to the fact that we were able to complete the comprehensive homologation process of this OEM with all checks and tests within the required time frame," explains Reinhold Parteli. Processes such as the correct mapping of dangerous goods labels, which are not relevant for Röchling Automotive because no dangerous goods are supplied to this OEM, but are also part of the certification process, were also checked.

Create a new SD scheduling agreement at an early stage

The individual requirements of another OEM, the joint venture of a German and a Chinese manufacturer based in Shenyang, China, are covered by another of the numerous OEM solutions used at Röchling Automotive.

This also applies, for example, to feedback messages that this manufacturer transmits in global EDIFACT format. The JIT delivery process poses a particular challenge in the form of JIT delivery schedules sent every 30 minutes, which place a heavy burden on the document flow of the SAP SD scheduling agreements and therefore their performance. 

In addition, a delivery schedule is automatically stopped as soon as the maximum number of 10,000 delivery call-offs per item is reached. To prevent this, a SPEEDIroutine automatically calculates the number of delivery call-offs per item in a scheduling agreement. As soon as the predefined critical limit is reached, the user is informed by e-mail or SAP workflow and can create a new scheduling agreement or a new scheduling agreement item in good time.

Prompt provision of OEM solutions

As one of the pilot suppliers of this manufacturer, whose production was still under construction, Röchling Automotive had to implement the EDI-supported logistics processing completely on a greenfield site in just four months. The tight schedule was also met thanks to the support and commitment of the WSW experts. 

"We have been working with WSW Software as an IT partner for years in a spirit of partnership and trust," explains Reinhold Parteli. Another major advantage is that the IT service provider from Gauting can quickly provide the right solution for EDI processes with OEMs that are new to the market, such as the joint venture or a manufacturer of electric SUVs and pickups. SPEEDI-solution. Existing OEM solutions are also adapted and expanded immediately as soon as a manufacturer changes its EDI logistics and new process requirements are added.

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