Streamlining Business Workflows for a Leading Glass Manufacturer

Introduction

The Vetropack Group were facing challenges in their product approval process. To tackle these challenges, kwe.li GmbH proposed and implemented a solution-based on OpenText Content Server and Answer Modules.

The implementation process was comprehensive and included a complete redesign of the existing workflows and the introduction of an enterprise content management system. The new solution was deployed using standard and custom functionalities to meet the client's specific needs. The result was a streamlined and efficient workflow system that has revolutionized the way the client develops new bespoke products in a collaborative process involving the internal and external stakeholders.

The Content Server and Answer Modules solution has been live for some time now and has already made a significant impact on the client's business. The form-based workflows have enabled faster and more reliable assessments of the feasibility of bespoke products, leading to a speedier sales process, significantly better planning and ultimately production. The net result is being a competitive edge in the industry.

At kwe.li GmbH, we are honoured to have played a role in this transformation process and are proud to see our client's success. We believe that this success story is a testament to the power of technology and its ability to improve key business processes.

The Vetropack Group

The Vetropack Group is a leading European glass packaging manufacturer based in Switzerland. They have a rich history of over 100 years and employ roughly 4,000 people in multiple countries across Europe, producing over 5 billion units of glass containers per year. They are a listed, family-managed company that offers standard glass containers and provides bespoke packaging design services to their customers.

The challenges

The main challenges included:

1. Effective communication and collaboration between all teams, including sales, management,  design, production planning, financial controlling, production, quality control, logistics, and customers, during all phases of a project.

2. Determining the feasibility of bespoke designs during the initial sales phase, including financial feasibility and adherence to strict industry regulations and standards.

3. Proper management and maintenance of accurate and complete documentation and records to meet regulatory requirements and ensure product traceability.

4. Variations in production locations and raw materials, based on the design of products.

5. Efficient production planning, given that glass manufacturing machinery must run 24/7/365.

6. Adherence to standard operating procedures and flexibility in workflows to adapt to potential customer needs.

An optimal IT solution was needed to address these challenges and improve efficiency, reduce errors, ensure compliance with regulations, enhance communication and collaboration, and increase profitability. The solution aimed to improve the company's overall operations, enabling them to better serve their customers while maintaining a competitive edge in the industry.

The Transformation

The transformation process was expertly handled by kwe.li GmbH, with its two founding partners having a combined 60 years of experience in IT consulting. To address the challenges faced by the client, the following solutions were implemented:

• Streamlined workflows were designed and implemented, incorporating key business processes while still providing the necessary flexibility to accommodate changing customer needs.

• The form-based workflows facilitated seamless communication among all stakeholders, resulting in an accelerated sales, design, and order fulfilment process.

• A central electronic repository was implemented for storing all digital artefacts      related to a customer's request, including customer offers, contracts, emails, pricing calculations, custom product designs, and production requests. This ensured easy access to all relevant information in one place.

• The workflows were integrated with related systems, such as CAD for designs, DocuSign for electronic signatures, and SAP for ERP, to further improve the efficiency and accuracy of the process.

Overall, the transformation process led to significant improvements in the client's business operations, enabling them to better serve their customers while maintaining a competitive edge in the industry.

Results of the Project:

• Improved communication and collaboration between all teams and customers, leading to faster and more reliable assessment of feasibility for bespoke products

• Accelerated sales process, giving the client a competitive edge in the industry

• Central electronic repository ensured accurate and complete documentation, meeting regulatory requirements and improving product traceability

• Optimized workflows adhered to standard operating procedures while still providing necessary flexibility, improving end-to-end business processes

• Integration of workflows with related systems such as CAD, DocuSign, and SAP further improved efficiency and reduced errors

• Increased profitability, improved overall operations, and better customer service for the client.

kwe.li GmbH played a crucial role in this transformation process and is proud to have helped the client achieve success.