RUCH NOVAPLAST GmbH + Co. KG

Since 1959 RUCH NOVAPLAST GmbH + Co. KG has been manufacturing moulded parts made of particle foams. The company employs around 150 staff at its sites in Oberkirch (Germany) and Odry (Czech Republic) and generates turnover of around 20 million euros.

Solution description

In order for the system change in financial accounting to take place in time for the new year, the project team decided to conduct two independent project phases. The first two months were reserved for accounting, while the operational business areas followed nearly half a year later. Thanks to the high range of functions of the company software and the industry solution, there was little need for modification, which primarily affected the special characteristics of tool production. Normally only one item is produced with one tool. In the foaming process, however, two or three items can be produced with one tool. Today flexible item hierarchies give us the leeway we need, Schmälzle emphasises. Other requirements, such as the transparent management of over 2,000 special tools, are a standard part of the new company software. The actual challenge in the project was the human factor. Schmälzle believes that the transition from an island to a closed system was a huge step for many employees. For some employees the feeling for the process chain only developed with time.

Advantages and benefits

The greatest benefit of Microsoft Dynamics AX is seen in accounting. With the introduction of cost accounting, detailed information on product profitability is now available for the first time. There are also important key indicators from the sales environment such as the number of open offers. Now we can recognise very quickly that certain products will not recover their costs in the long term. This simplifies product range decisions, an improvement that pleases Schmälzle. But at least just as important is the fact that customers benefit from faster reaction times since customer advisors can immediately provide delivery date estimates.

"With the help of Dynamics AX we can recognise very quickly if products will not recover their costs in the long term."

Mathias Schmälzle, Controlling and ERP System Support at RUCH NOVAPLAST GmbH + Co. KG