INFORM manages in-plant transport at CLAAS
Mar 28, 2023
The agricultural machinery manufacturer CLAAS Group relies on the transport control system SYNCROTESS from INFORM to control its internal material flow. The intelligent software optimizes 8,200 internal transports daily. Tendency: increasing. Therefore, an upgrade to the latest version now sets the course for the future.
For the assembly of the agricultural machines, an average of 8,200 internal transports takes place daily. The optimization of the internal transport logistics is managed by SYNCROTESS from INFORM. Image source: CLAAS
CLAAS produces combine harvesters, self-propelled forage harvesters and system tractors. To date, the company has sold more than 400,000 combine harvesters. For the assembly of the agricultural machines, an average of 8,200 internal transports takes place daily, which bring the necessary material, prefabricated components, or auxiliary materials to the right place in the assembly hall. This internal material flow has already been controlled and optimized by the add-on system since 2006.
With the upgrade of the software to the latest version, CLAAS now wants to meet the growing complexity in intralogistics. This is because the industrial company is digitizing and centralizing its production lines, which will additionally increase the volume of internal transports, explains Andreas Lonnemann, project engineer for production logistics at CLAAS. "We now need more precise delivery with often smaller material units. Efficient transport now primarily requires optimization using intelligent algorithms, which SYNCROTESS provides us with," he sums up.
In addition, delivery shortages and delays are not unusual in internal transport logistics. With the algorithm-based transport control system, CLAAS can now respond to this much better, says Lonnemann. "The system's optimization algorithms automatically schedule delayed orders on the nearest resource so that delivery is made as quickly as possible." The solution also offers many advantages during substitutions and holidays, as well as in pandemic-related home office situation. By using it in the cloud, all users can log in from anywhere via the internet and immediately get a real-time overview of the current order situation in a modern interface. This makes transfers effortless and reduces the potential for errors.
About CLAAS
Around 2,300 employees work in the original CLAAS factory in Harsewinkel, which has an operational area of 400,000 m2. The plant produces the LEXION large combine harvester series, which consists of more than 50,000 components as well as the TUCANO, AVERO and DOMINATOR combine harvester ranges, the JAGUAR forage harvester series and the XERION large tractors, which have engine outputs of up to 530 hp. CLAAS employs over 11,400 employees around the world and achieved a turnover of approximately €4.0 billion in 2020. Furhter information at www.claas.com.