Weert Groep is a group of four companies that specialise in corrosion protection via galvanising and powder coating. In addition, products are also finished, assembled, packed or shipped to suit client requirements. The group has two galvanising companies (Verzinkerij Weert B.V. in Stramproy and Galvaco S.A. in Ouffet) and two powder coating companies (ElectroCoat B.V. in Stramproy and ElectroCoat Genk N.V. in Genk) in the Netherlands and Belgium (both Dutch and French speaking). A total of approximately 230 people are employed.

Characteristics
The following characteristics are applicable:

• In principle, nothing is manufactured. Products supplied by clients are surface treated and then returned to the client;
• As regards scope and composition, orders are always unique and are planned and completed in accordance with a pre-defined production plan, fully in accordance with the client order;
• During order processing the components are regularly separated and (re)grouped and the routing also changes for additional treatments and/or the repair of rejects for example;
• In principle, production orders are planned for each limited-capacity production line. A number of limiting factors also play a role in this such as dimensions and, for powder coating, the colour run schedule (light to dark and as much clustering as possible per colour).

In practice this means that when a vehicle arrives with materials, the materials are subjected to testing or further specification. This forms the input for the next order phase, whereby the materials arriving on the vehicles are usually assigned a range of different routings through the various companies due to the treatments (galvanising, polishing, coating, etc.) that are required and the coating colour.

Aim of the automation project
From the situation whereby each business had its own financial and logistics system, a re-automation project was started with the following aims:

• A single system in which each business has its own financial administration but from a logistics point of view a transparent picture is created with regard to planning, order progress, production costs, test results, etc;
• Reduced administrative load regarding order generation, order cards, card trays, invoicing and registration of production costs;
• The ability to handle inter-company sub-contracting with minimum administrative effort;
• To establish a new basis for any future developments such as e-commerce.

Choice of package and partner
The following grounds were decisive for the choice of package:

• Extensive basic functionality, especially in relation to production;
• Multi-company and multi-language functionalities;
• Possibility to link production terminals;
• Possibility of customised modifications;
• Guaranteed continuity due to partner concept and international character;
• Price, as a result of which SAP, among other things, is not one of the options.

Willem Beljaars, Director, Weert Groep: “We now have insight into the total database of all business units."

The following arguments played a role in the selection of automation partner:

• No nonsense, open and honest approach of Pulse which reflects the corporate culture within the Weert Groep;
• Pulse’s experience in machine control in production environments;
• Geographic location;
• Enormous commitment by the Pulse management in respect of partnering/project.

Results
The following results were achieved:

• A reduction in the indirect organisation, in other words cost saving.
• Up-to-date order statuses and production progress easy to monitor from an office environment using a simple dashboard;
• Capacity planning and production yields per workshop/production line;
• Import of digital client files for order entry;

Possibility to link/register additional production process parameters in a single system.