SAP ERP for Hidden Champion

Since 1954, the Bleistahl Group has been developing, manufacturing and supplying valve seat inserts and valve guides for the automotive industry. Headquartered in Wetter, North Rhine-Westphalia, and with further locations in Brazil, South Africa, China and the USA, the hidden champion supplies renowned customers worldwide - including Volkswagen, Audi, Ford, BMW and Ferrari. The long-established company develops high-temperature materials and supports customers in the development of innovative low-emission engines.

In order to manufacture the products effectively and economically, i.e. from prototype production through series production to various services such as component testing, a modern system landscape is essential. Since smooth communication with customers is crucial in the automotive supply industry, the SAP ERP implementation focused on very specific requirements for EDI communication.

The aim of the joint project was to expand the SAP ERP platform (FI/CO) already in productive use to include logistics and EDI processes. The special feature was that these extensions had been commissioned from a market competitor of itelligence but not completed. This situation was addressed with the help of a new SAP ERP landscape and turned into a success. The basis for this was a detailed and excellently coordinated planning of the project from the outset. In the process, the company's processes were optimized as they were adapted to the proven and preconfigured processes in the ERP system.

It was first important to establish trust with Bleistahl in order to create a resilient basis for the joint work. Based on this, stringent prototyping with several integration tests was carried out under customer direction in order to involve the key users in the best possible way right from the start. Bleistahl is constantly working on the further development of its corporate culture. Teamwork and an open culture of discussion are at the forefront. Ideas are born in conversations. By involving the key users at an early stage, it was possible to awaken potential and create more joy and appreciation in the work, so that the ERP solution is perceived and lived as an enrichment.

Gold for implementation

The SAP Quality Awards have been presented since 2008 by an international jury on behalf of SAP Germany in the three categories 'Business Transformation', 'Fast Delivery' and 'Innovation' in gold, silver and bronze respectively. "Bleistahl projected the replacement of various legacy systems to an integrated SAP Financials and Warehouse Management System with EDI connection of their customers.

The jury was impressed by how Bleistahl succeeded in replacing complex legacy processes in sensitive areas of inventory management processes and data exchange with customers with a steady hand and a silent, almost unnoticed go-live. The SAP project, which was completed with the support of Itelligence, will be expanded in the next step to include a number of logistics components," was the jury's reasoning for the gold award for the automotive supplier.

Following the successful ERP project, for which Bleistahl finally received the SAP Quality Award in Gold in the 'Fast Delivery' category at the end of 2016, nothing now stands in the way of the introduction of further modules and the international rollout by the SAP consultancy itelligence. Further activities have already started at the automotive supplier to introduce the remaining SAP modules and completely replace the legacy systems. The international rollouts will then begin. The Gold Award encourages Bleistahl to continue on its path with itelligence:

"We are delighted with itelligence for our Gold Award. The industry expertise and the user-oriented approach to the SAP implementation were reasons for the decision to work with itelligence. Today, we are already in the next project phase. Phase two comprises the rollout of the templates and the introduction of further SAP modules."

describes Bleistahl Managing Director Dr. Ekkehard Köhler the next steps.