Holder- New ERP solution with long-term viability
- Transparency and flexible adjustment of all processes
- Seamless integration of the entire supply-change chain
- Cost reduction in the IT organization
SAP ERP Implementation at Holder
Since its previous IT system could no longer be expanded and the FI/CO applications were not fully integrated, Holder went searching for a new system and a suitable SAP ERP implementation partner. The surface refiner found what it was looking for with the full-range IT service provider Sycor. Its industry solution Sycor.Surface, based on SAP Business-All-in-One, could be adapted to the company-specific processes quickly and efficiently.
Holder specializes in treating all kinds of surfaces. Founded in 1948, the family-owned company primarily supplies the automobile industry and counts renowned companies such as BMW, Daimler, Porsche, and VW among its customers. The company has grown significantly over the last 20 years: It opened a second plant specializing in galvanic zinc plating in 1997, followed by the zinc lamella competence center as the third plant in 2008. Holder has continuously expanded its offerings as well. The surface coating specialist added the cleaning and passivating of aluminum to its range of services in 2007, chemical nickel coating in 2011, anodizing and hard anodizing in 2012, wet painting in 2013, and finally aluminum pre-treatment in 2015. In 2015 the company, with around 250 employees, generated sales of approximately 36 million.
From numerous subsystems to a fully integrated IT landscape
A heterogeneous IT landscape with various subsystems had developed in the course of the company's rapid growth, and was no longer able to meet the higher demands. "Our old system was simply not meeting our needs anymore. It was therefore clear that we needed a new, highly integrated solution to make us fit for the future," is how Klaus-Dieter Laidig, SAP Steering Committee Chairperson at Holder and former CEO of Hewlett-Packard Germany, summarizes the initial situation. The requirements for the new system were quickly defined: Integrative mapping of the entire supply-change chain including container management, various production processes, quality, quotation management, and cost accounting. External systems such as the quality management system, IQS and the EDI solution, SEEBURGER had to be integrated into the system as well.
A combination of two industry solutions
The company quickly found an SAP ERP implementation partner and a suitable solution. "We had known Sycor for nearly six years and were aware that the industry solution Sycor.Surface had worked well for several competitors. In the course of exploratory discussions, we quickly realized how much industry expertise has been incorporated into this solution," Laidig explains. The SAP specialists at Sycor made a proposal to Holder for a combination of the SAP industry solution Sycor.Surface with parts of Sycor.Automotive on the basis of SAP Business-All-in-One, which Holder found impressive. "Sycor.Surface was adaptable to our needs with little effort. That was an important argument for us since we wanted to implement the project quickly," Laidig continues.
Fast delivery of the new system
Sycor implemented SAP FI/CO and Materials Management in the first project phase. The company's entire logistics followed in the second phase. Embedding was realized without noticeably impacting Holder's day-to-day business. "We rolled out SAP FI/CO within six months and mapped the logistics in SAP ERP within twelve months," explains Roland Masurat, Project Manager at Sycor, and continues: "We are going to transfer the system to three additional plants in the near future. We are confident that this project phase will be implemented just as smoothly as the rest."
"We are very satisfied with the new solution. It is seamlessly integrated and encompasses all of our processes. I have personally managed quite a few SAP ERP implementation projects in the course of my career, and I have to say that this one went more smoothly than ever!" Laidig emphasizes.
Our partners
All partners
