Customer reference: STILL GmbH – 15 years Kanban

STILL GmbH is a leading provider of intralogistics solutions. Its portfolio includes forklift trucks, storage technology, connected systems and services. Founded in 1920 by Hans Still, the company's trademarks include tailor-made solutions with outstanding service. STILL has set itself the goal of making intralogistics "smart": by developing intelligent solutions that make storage management processes more seamless and efficient, protecting the health of the people working there in a better manner, while also fulfilling the highest sustainability standards. STILL is therefore actively promoting new solutions for e-mobility and automation, for fleet and energy management to circularity, i.e. the consistent conservation of resources and the recycling of materials used. With headquarters in Hamburg, STILL employs around 9,000 people in 22 countries and is part of the listed KION Group AG.

Factories are constantly in a state of flux, digitalisation is gaining ground, efficient and autonomous processes are becoming more important: the motto is to always be one step ahead – this applies to the intralogistics solutions of STILL and also to the procurement systems for production and operating materials of Würth Industrie Service.

Objective of the new production supply

Increase in productivity in intralogistics
Innovative technologies
Maximum transparency
Reduction of time-consuming, manual activities

Optimising procurement processes

Even for STILL, every little part is of utmost importance. Screws, nuts, and washers may seem insignificant at first glance, but they are invaluable: After all, fasteners play a crucial role in ensuring safe and uninterrupted production, serving as key components for maintaining smooth operations. Be it wheel screws for securely mounting the wheels, clamps for securing hoses and cables or screw plugs for the counterweights – all these parts have one thing in common: They fulfil essential fastening functions and are therefore indispensable for the stability and safety of vehicles. That is why it is important to ensure that not a single part is missing – because every component counts. Especially in purchasing, C-Parts with irregular requirements, low unit costs and a large variety of items have a major impact on procurement, which proves to be extremely time-consuming, error-prone, and inefficient. This is precisely where the intelligent supply solutions for automated production supply by Würth Industrie Service at STILL are making a difference – and have been doing so since 2010.

Booster for the intralogistics

The intralogistics of the future demands solutions that are efficient and forward-looking, thus giving its customers a decisive edge. This vision becomes reality with the supply of production resources via RFID Kanban. The battery-operated iPLACER^® is an option for reordering C-Parts flexibly and from anywhere. The compact module has an integrated reader and transmitter unit and can be installed anywhere – from production to workplace to logistics. At the workplace, the device automatically triggers an order when required. If it is attached to any flow rack, users can also use it to record incoming and outgoing goods, bookings, standing orders, and order releases without any manual efforts. For the first time, RFID technology is being used not only for ordering, but also for inventory management – a real step forward on the path to a connected value chain. The iPLACER^® is also being successfully used at STILL since 2020.

“Our requirements in industrial truck production are managed in a lean manner and reorders are placed fully automatically, which saves us a lot of time and significantly reduces the effort involved in coordination and ordering.” Michael Grosser, responsible for C-Parts management at STILL

Since 2022, the intralogistics specialist has been relying on iGATE to centrally record a large number of bins. In the case of STILL, as soon as a material train passes through the gate at the Hamburg plant, the system enables simultaneous detection and data transmission of up to 100 bins. The solution is used exclusively and solely for the automated empty notification of Kanban bins.

„Thanks to iGATE, we save considerable time in recording data. Empty bins in particular can be reported as empty without the need for manual scanning,“ says Grosser.

Booster for storage management

Since 2023, iSCALE has also stood out at STILL in terms of reliability and innovation. It is a sensor-controlled scale, which is directly connected with the Kanban bin W-KLT^®2.0 (Würth small load carrier 2.0) and can be moved independently. Whether on the assembly line, in the material storage, at the Kanban storage location or directly at the assembly and workstation: iSCALE takes over the logistical storage management for C-Parts almost independently. The sensor-controlled scale continuously checks the weight of the small parts stored in the bin and transmits the same via an encrypted interface to the ERP system of the C-Parts provider, so that everything can be monitored at all times. Once the weight falls below a defined value, the intelligent system reorders automatically according to demand. Grosser sums up the benefits that STILL expects from the digital storage management system: “Fully automated logistical stock management replaces cumbersome stock-taking, re-orders and interim storage. As the inventory is continuously audited, any fluctuations and peaks can be identified in time, and thus supply security can be maximised.” In the case of STILL, the intelligent scale systems are used in the conventional Kanban system in a centralised supermarket.

Booster for third-party order processing

So that nothing gets left behind along the way: When numerous C-Parts, A- and B-parts as well as other handling parts are to be managed efficiently among thousands of parts in the production, holistic supplier integration is required – as is the case at STILL. Therefore, Würth Industrie Service integrates suppliers previously qualified under CPS^®miDROPSHIP and defined by STILL into the existing Kanban system via third-party order processing. The partner suppliers fill and label the Kanban bins in their warehouse and ship them directly to STILL in Hamburg. On site, Würth Industrie Service takes care of filling the shelves. Customers thus benefit from automated scheduling and inventory management and can simultaneously integrate their individual desired items into the Würth Kanban system. The intralogistics specialist uses the service to easily integrate screw connections outside the Würth portfolio into the existing process landscape.

Partner in tandem

In February of this year, STILL and Würth Industrie Service celebrated 15 years of Kanban in Bad Mergentheim. With a dedicated team of experts for the KION Group, the parent company of STILL GmbH, that is well-acquainted with the market, the industry as well as with the individual customer requirements of the intralogistics expert, the two pioneers have been working in tandem ever since. This close cooperation builds the foundation for developing innovative solutions and successfully implementing pioneering projects.

Further success stories of our supply systems

Nowadays, electronic system solutions are the be-all and end-all of an efficient sourcing of C parts.

For instance, for Gerhardi, a driver of innovation, a scanner-based sourcing system with connection to an online shop is an indispensable precondition for a smoothly running just-in-time production. This is why they looked for an automated process that was standardized but still allowed for flexible orders as well.

More information in the success story

GERHARDI nutzt elekronische Lösungen der Würth Industrie Service

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cps@wuerth-industrie.com
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