How esb works with us to precisely control its manufacturing processes
Gas-flushing cones for steel mills are an extraordinary manufacturing challenge—because these high-strength components require extreme precision. That is exactly what esb has been guaranteeing for decades.
Together with BOLD & EPIC Transform, the management of order processing, production, and inventory control has been taken to a new level—seamlessly with the Haufe X360 ERP solution.
Precisely Manage Order Processing and
Production via ERP –
with BOLD & EPIC Transform and Haufe X360
In collaboration with BOLD & EPIC Transform, esb has modernized its ERP processes—from order entry and production control to inventory management and invoicing.
The result: greater speed, increased transparency, and a system that accurately maps the company’s complex value chain.
The Added Value
on behalf of esb Schweißbetrieb Burbach and Bender
Order entry based on a comprehensive full-text search in the ERP system
Create production orders with just a few clicks directly from within the system
Tracking of working hours and material usage—including automatic "debit entries" in inventory
Managing work processes using simple list views and filter functions in the ERP system
Bulk Management in Billing—Many Documents Can Be Generated Simultaneously
5 Questions – 5 Answers About Our Haufe X360 Solution at esb
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The production of gas-flushing cones requires specialists like esb: This complex component is used in steel mills to homogenize metal—and comes in countless variations. “As a result, we have very flexible production processes, especially since our steel fabrication division also manufactures other components,” explains Matthias Otterbach, commercial director at esb. “Our expertise extends far beyond welding.”
For more than 20 years, these processes were managed using an outdated ERP system. It covered only basic functions, was slow, and was not used consistently: “Many calculation processes simply took too long, and data entry was cumbersome.”
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esb made a conscious decision to implement a new ERP system—with one factor at the forefront: flexibility. After all, custom manufacturing with many variations requires a solution that is not only adaptable but also accurately maps out the processes.
Haufe X360 stood out thanks to its flexible structure and open architecture—the cornerstone of the solution. In addition, the choice of implementation partner played a key role: With BOLD & EPIC Transform, esb brought a team on board that does not simplify complex production and cost logic but rather translates it precisely into an ERP system.
A key sticking point was the cost center structure, which plays a pivotal role at esb. Together, they developed a solution that allows work steps, resources, and cost centers to be modeled in a way that works effectively in day-to-day operations—and creates true transparency in financial control.
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The implementation process took place in two phases: a somewhat slower initial phase and a significantly accelerated implementation over the last four months.
The second phase began with a kick-off meeting at the BOLD & EPIC office. All stakeholders gathered there to address key questions regarding the ERP implementation.
In addition, the BOLD & EPIC Transform team visited the site several times to assess the most important processes directly in practice.
After all, only by thoroughly understanding how a process works—and which subsequent processes it triggers—can an ERP system be modeled in a way that truly lightens the workload later on. -
The extent to which the overall solution aligns with esb’s objectives is particularly evident in the mapping of cost centers.
Each step in the production process was defined as a “resource” and assigned to a specific cost center. This is crucial because many employees perform a wide variety of tasks and regularly work on different resources.
As a result, the various costs can now be tracked and analyzed at a much finer granularity—an important foundation for management, transparency, and further development.
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Management: Even the full-text search in Haufe X360 makes an enormous difference in day-to-day operations.
“When a customer places an order, I no longer have to spend a long time searching to find the corresponding item in our system. Whether you enter customer-specific item numbers, our own item numbers, drawing numbers, or whatever—the desired item is displayed in a matter of seconds.”
And things move quickly from there, too: order confirmations and production orders are created with just a few clicks.
“These and similar processes take a fraction of the time they used to.”Production: Employees can filter and sort their orders as needed and process them in a structured manner. At the same time, Haufe X360 supports the management of subprocesses: Every work step is documented—including working hours—and automatically triggers the next steps.
At the same time, the material used is “written off” directly from inventory, ensuring that the warehouse always knows the current status.Inventory Management: Haufe X360 ensures order and speed here as well. Every storage location is recorded in the system—eliminating time-consuming searches.
“This currently applies above all to our location near Koblenz—in Eisern near Siegen, products are only assigned to specific storage areas,” explains Matthias Otterbach. “In any case, however, we benefit from a high degree of transparency and up-to-date information.”