Dutch trailer manufacturer Broshuis is supporting a new production method, and strengthening its ability to respond to customers’ needs, with solutions from Infor, including Infor LN, according to the business cloud software provider.
Previously, family-run Broshuis, founded in 1885 in Muiden, The Netherlands, primarily supplied custom-made trailers and operated by the engineer-to-order principle. The company now is using a configure-to-order method intended to create a better connection with its e-commerce activities.
After using Infor VISUAL enterprise resource planning (ERP) for 20 years, Broshuis was looking for new functionalities, including better and integrated production planning, barcode scanning in the warehouse, more standardized automation and tighter logistics control. A few years ago, it introduced a product configurator that allows customers to configure a trailer, providing direct insight into target prices, which facilitates the selection process. After starting the automated parts factory, the next step was to choose a new ERP.
Five ERP vendors were selected, and three were invited to give a demonstration. Infor was chosen because of its industry-specific functionalities for the factory, and the capabilities of its middleware solution, Infor ION, Broshuis said. Infor was one of the few suppliers that could provide a solution that supports Broshuis’ two types of production (custom building and repetitive production) in the factory.
“Broshuis is a wonderful company with a long history,” said Kees van den Houten, Infor Benelux country manager. “It is what we call a ‘pearl’ in the Dutch manufacturing industry. We are proud that our innovative solutions are used to further expand their position in the current challenging market.”
Broshuis now uses Infor LN, Infor CloudSuite Configure Price Quote (CPQ), Infor ION, Infor Ming.le, and Infor Factory Track to manage the inventory components and automate Broshuis’ time registration. The solutions help the trailer manufacturer reduce management costs by using standard processes while maintaining product quality. The company also can profit from improved insights into organization-wide activities, Infor maintained.
“We are seeing more and more robotization in trailer construction, and digitization and automation have also become more important in our market,” said Sjoerd Dekker, chief financial officer at Broshuis. “We are very positive (about the switch). What immediately stood out were the functionalities and integration possibilities. Our CPQ team can easily make offers without the intervention of the technical department, which means that lead times can be considerably shortened.
“Fine-tuning still needs to be done, but ultimately the solutions will help us reduce delivery times and stocks. Moreover, the data will be more accurate, and we can increase the reliability of our planning.”