Enlarge

What were the challenges to be solved and what specific benefits were achieved?

To date the SME bwh Koffer has been unable to manufacture bespoke foam inserts in very small quantities (batch sizes of 1 and upwards) for customers from the industrial sector at a profit. At the same time the demand from end customers through the online shop B+W Koffermarkt GmbH & Co. KG for the very same service increased continuously. Consequently the main concern of both companies was to exploit this potential.

By having the online configurator as an Industrie 4.0 solution the companies were able to set up the process sequence in such a way so that customers of both companies play an active role in production, since they design the foam inserts themselves. This results in a reduction in the labour input and costs at bwh Koffer. As a result the bespoke products can on the one hand be offered to customers at a lucrative price. Configurator use is intuitive and very user-friendly. Even users without any prior knowledge of CAD design or similar are now able to simply design the foam insert to their own specifications.

"Today Industrie 4.0 shouldn’t be a strange concept even for SMEs. We at bwh Koffer already recognised this some time ago. Our great strengths include our expertise and our powers of innovation. With the case foam insert configurator we have generated real added value which is trend-setting, since it offers process optimisation, bespoke options and is extremely user-friendly too”, said the qualified engineer Simone Wriedt, MBA – Assistant to Management.

How can the Industrie 4.0 approach be described?

Customers are not passive recipients of a product, but are instead actively involved in the manufacturing and design process. This means that the implementation of bespoke specifications is now possible even for production runs of just one item.

What could be achieved?

By setting up the foam insert online bwh Koffer has satisfied the demand by customers in the industrial sector who only need small quantities of cases with foam inserts made to meet their specific requirements. At the same time Koffermarkt is satisfying the increase in demand by end customers for foam case-inserts customized. Both companies benefit from tapping new customer potential, streamlining systems and cutting overheads, while the customers benefit from having shorter delivery times and products customized at an attractive price.

The foam case-inserts are needed not only in a professional capacity but for personal use too as holders for tools and measuring instruments, drones, cameras, technical equipment and much more besides. The solution available from bwh Spezialkoffer and Koffermarkt enables the said companies to tap additional potential demand.

What measures have been taken to achieve the solution?

Existing software programmes and problem-solving approaches available in the market or from countries other than Germany do not satisfy the requirements of bwh Koffer. That is why bwh relied upon a solution it developed itself to come up with a foam case-insert configurator which is particularly user-friendly and can be used even by those not familiar with computers.

Working together with its subsidiary B+W Koffermarkt GmbH & Co. KG and an external agency the configurator was then programmed from the bottom up. To achieve this end, there was a continual exchange of information between the programmers and the project team at bwh Koffer. From the beginning employees from all the departments involved at bwh Koffer and Koffermarkt were involved and by so doing this ensured agile development.

What can others learn from it?

You should listen to what your customers want and pay attention to relevant market developments. How can you fulfil a demand effectively? Are there any approaches to the solution for this available on the market? If not, do not be afraid, as an SME, from developing a solution yourself.