Smooth mobile data exchange directly with SAP

Flexibility and agility are important criteria for success today. This challenge is also reflected in the constant adaptation of digital business processes.

The Reifenhäuser Group therefore made a future-oriented investment in mobile solutions with high user acceptance and individual adaptability. Four years ago, the supplier of technologies and components for plastics extrusion decided to mobilize its processes in the central warehouse with the dynamic framework.

Following the successful initial project, further processes were mapped, such as more efficient goods receipt processing with weight and image recording or the mobile recording of fault messages in the assembly areas.

With MSB, mobile applications for business areas such as maintenance and logistics can be developed or adapted in just a few steps and only with Abap know-how. MSB users can thus react agilely to market requirements and processes are efficiently mobilized and digitized.

Mobile processing in goods receipt

Digitized information on the goods received is already available at the time of delivery. Using the mobile application, the employee scans the order and material number on the delivery bill and checks the open order item.

SAP checks directly whether material images and weight information are already available. If no information has been entered yet, the employee receives a note on his PC.

With the connected scale, he can determine the weight and transmit it to SAP with a click. Missing material photos are recorded and transferred just as easily.

Images can be captured via the camera control on the mobile device and sent directly to the document management system. A document info record is now created in SAP and the material master and image files are automatically linked.

The data exchange takes place directly in SAP. If the material has not yet been labeled by the supplier, this can also be done immediately by the warehouse employee.

The printer is also controlled directly from the solution. Delivery lists with verified weights and the clear identification of materials simplify everyday work and lead to an optimized and cost-efficient material flow.

External systems such as scales, printers or scanners communicate directly with SAP in a simple and smooth data exchange. MSB thus creates the basis for IoT and Smart Factory.

"By working with Mobisys, we have managed to unify a process that was previously operated in different places with a lot of effort"

says Christoph Stadtler, Group Manager Incoming Goods, Reifenhäuser Maschinenfabrik.

Assembly messages

MSB is industry-independent and can be used across all company divisions. Reifenhäuser and Mobisys therefore also work together profitably in production and have developed a mobile application for fault messages in assembly.

If a problem occurs at an assembly site, employees can now respond quickly using a mobile device. In addition to various message types, the assembler can specify whether help is needed immediately or whether assembly can continue for the time being.

This prioritization ensures that orders are processed efficiently and sensibly. On his mobile device, he records the assembly station at which he is located and scans the production order with the camera on his device.

The order data is then read and the material number of the defective part is recorded. The fitter then selects the reason for the fault from a list, adds his own details or pictures and sends the message to his colleague in the warehouse.

The data is transferred directly to SAP as usual. In the warehouse, the warehouse clerk accesses the message with his handheld device and has a direct view of all important information, including images - he can start assembling the required components immediately.

While he is checking the material stock and processing the order, the status of the transaction in the GUI is switched from red to yellow. This shows at a glance that the order is already being processed, eliminating duplicate work. After the work is done, the status of the GUI changes to green.

"We are helped more quickly. Our employees no longer have to leave their workstations. They are virtually served from the warehouse area or from the construction area."

says Thomas Oferath, Foreman Mechanical Assembly Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating.

The simplicity of an application is crucial for user acceptance. But what looks simple implies deep knowledge and competencies in UX design.

This includes a pleasant, well thought-out design as well as intelligent guidance through the application and smooth technical performance. Mobisys paid great attention to these criteria when developing the MSB.

The applications are consistently well received by end users and ensure efficient work. A major advantage of the MSB is its intuitive user interface, which ensures rapid familiarization and low training costs. Information is recorded quickly and correctly right from the start.

"Employees have quickly adopted this system because it is very easy to use and operate"

Thomas Oferath explains.

The software components of the MSB are designed in such a way that they provide a ready-made standard solution and could be used directly in Reifenhäuser's system.

Through customizing or in-house development in the familiar programming language Abap, adjustments can now be made independently in all areas according to individual requirements.

In order to map the desired processes, it is child's play with MSB to develop your own interfaces and compile the corresponding UI elements in the graphical editor.

Data binding is done simply by drag-and-drop - and completely detached from a specific SAP module. The result is applications exactly according to process and user requirements at enormous speed.