Eppendorf SE, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, is one of the leading life science companies in the field of sample management. The corporate group globally develops, produces and distributes premium devices and systems for use in laboratories across various industries. The product portfolio includes pipettes, pipette tips, centrifuges, mixers, ultra-low temperature freezers, as well as a wide range of high-quality consumables.
After attending an ORTEC customer event, showcasing similar customer solutions, Eppendorf decided to use and implement the SAP add-on ORTEC for SAP (O4S) for the optimization of required shipping cartons (CPO), optimal pallet building (PPO) and load space optimization for trailers, containers etc. (VSO). Additionally the Sales/Delivery Order Sizing function is used, ensuring that customer orders can be sized flexibly to maximize the fill-rate of the shipping containers.
Eppendorf SE aimed to comprehensively optimize their export logistics processes and significantly reduce associated costs in the long term. In the previous solution, the required data first had to be exported and then manually processed for shipping in an external tool, which was very labor-intensive. With the introduced ORTEC solution, several advantages were realized.
Planning, testing and the successful implementation just took one year. The complex functionality of the ORTEC standard software already covered a significant scope of the required features, thus reducing the number of necessary customizations to a minimum. Thanks to online presentations and coordination meetings the introduction went smoothly even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The user acceptance is high and the targeted optimization potentials were fully achieved.
Andreas Drengwitz, Head of Warehouse Operations Eppendorf SE
"The ORTEC modules facilitate our daily work and help Eppendorf to meet the needs of its customers even better, for example through improved planning reliability. We are pleased that the software introduction and application have worked seamlessly. Gradually, we will introduce additional functionalities of ORTEC and roll out the tool to other shipping locations."
The Challenge
Eppendorf SE was looking for a replacement for their Windows-based software tool “MultiMix”, used for simulating the required loading space capacities. The aim was to obtain the most accurate calculation of packaging material and loading space needed for the customized shipment of the extensive product range. This was intended to increase planning reliability as well as service quality and to reduce the costs of logistics processes.
How we create value
ORTEC for SAP (O4S), including the modules
• Carton Pack Optimization (CPO)
• Pallet Pack Optimization (PPO)
• Vehicle Space Optimization (VSO)
Benefits
• Automated and optimized calculation of packaging and loading space requirements
• Long-term reduction of process and logistics costs
• Increased number of simulation possibilities for orders and deliveries
• Optimized utilization of shipping containers through Sales Order Sizing
• Reduced planning effort
Manufacturing