The strength of most meat businesses is their product leadership, with excellent processes another element for competitive success. Metzgerei Stöckle OHG relies on CSB-System with its tough operational requirements, improved performance, and automation.
Real-time data just a mouse-click away
Stöckle forces the digitalisation pace at its meat processing facility, supported by the ERP software from CSB-System. According to managing director Christian Stöckle, the company has seen a substantial increase in the use of this software in recent years.
“We need to drive the digital process because we want to reply to the questions from our customers as quickly as possible. Questions concerning products, specifications, availability, prices, or conditions. As a decision-maker, I need straight answers, and I need them fast. In our CSB-System, I can access real-time data with just a few mouse-clicks,” Stöckle said.
The ERP software is particularly important in production. Combined with the industrial PCs from CSB, the programs are used at several positions to supply the operatives with the precise details on upcoming jobs, recipes, and procedure instructions.
Clearly, this has significant advantages. In contrast to manual processes, the probability of input and transmission errors is much lower in IT-aided workflows. The basic principle of paperless processing and acquisition of information is the common thread for the flow of goods in production: from incoming goods inspection to shipping.
Detect deviations in the ERP
The raw material weight is the principal metric. The weights are repeatedly captured at the CSB racks, for example, after filling at the filling line, or immediately after smoking. Before the packaged products are stored in the cold storage facilities, they are weighed once more to get accurate information on the finished products stock and to determine potential further losses in the packaging process.
The data is made centrally available in the ERP and retrieved to analyse the effects of raw material and production parameters on the yields or on the quality of the final products.
“These results are important for us, especially for the target-actual comparison in our calculation,” Stöckle said.
Any major deviations from the normal losses or process steps diverging from the standard can be identified.
“It is really helpful that we can access the process and product data as well as relevant KPIs online. We can take specific actions whenever something is not going to plan. It allows us to quickly identify the trouble so we can implement improvements and keep up the quality. Without the software, tracking down the problem would be like searching for a needle in a haystack,” he said.
Always up to date: the digital image of the butcher shop
The integrated data flow between all departments improves the transparency and enables real-time monitoring of the production lines: “As we have united all processes in one ERP system, our data is always up to date and gives us the big picture of our operations.”
Following the postings “live” in the ERP, the managing director can instantly see the location and the production progress of an item.
This digital image of the butcher shop is an important instrument to assess the productivity of the departments, to keep a firm grip on product and labour costs, and ultimately to secure the earnings.
“I can rely on solid numbers and access reports anytime and anywhere – no matter if I’m at home on my sofa or in the office,” Stöckle said.
This also helps to enhance the communication with the customers. For example, when a customer submits a complaint, you can easily look up the number of the lot delivered to this customer and the sell-by date printed on the label. Additionally, you can determine if other customers received the same product.
“In such a case, I can immediately see what the customer is talking about as I can pull up the lot numbers on my screen instantly.”
About the company
Metzgerei Stöckle OHG
- established in 1963;
- 190 employees;
- production volume: 450 tonnes per month;
- more than 3000 products;
- over 1000 customers; and
- 15 own vehicles.
Solution overview
ERP with Procurement, Inventory, Production, Sales, Coverage Planning Management, DMS, EDI, Traceability, Quality Management, Subsidiary Information System, HR, FiAc, Route Management, Mobile ERP
Top customer benefits
- Real-time data on products, specifications, availability, prices, or conditions are quickly available;
- ERP enables the analysis of raw material and production parameters with regard to yields and quality of finished products; and
- Integrated data flows between all departments improve the transparency and enable real-time monitoring of production lines.
This is a sponsored post by CSB-System. For case studies from CSB-System, visit the website, YouTube or LinkedIn.
