Download PDF
A Reliable Integration Platform for Company-Wide Processes
Technology Category
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms
- Analytics & Modeling - Process Analytics
Applicable Industries
- Electronics
- Equipment & Machinery
Applicable Functions
- Discrete Manufacturing
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Process Control & Optimization
- Inventory Management
- Supply Chain Visibility
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
The Challenge
SICK AG, a global provider of modern sensor technology, has experienced significant growth, leading to an increase in the heterogeneity of the company’s IT environment. With over 40 subsidiaries, numerous sales agencies, and partnerships, ensuring seamless communication between the different IT systems was crucial to guarantee smooth operations and customer satisfaction. The company needed a solution that could integrate the various IT systems from procurement to production, logistics to sales, and handle the increasing volumes of data being exchanged.
About The Customer
SICK AG is a top global provider of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications. The company is a technology and market leader in automation for factories, logistics, and processes. SICK currently employs more than 5,000 employees worldwide. The company’s success stems from its strong focus on international growth markets as well as SICK’s outstanding application expertise—customer demands are viewed as a challenge and solutions are developed jointly with the customers. SICK AG is a global provider of modern sensor technology with more than 40 subsidiaries, numerous sales agencies, and partnerships.
The Solution
To achieve seamless communication between the different IT systems, SICK AG implemented webMethods integration technology in 2002. Since then, the company has introduced webMethods Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), (now called webMethods Integration Server), as well as webMethods Trading Networks for B2B integration. The company has also adopted webMethods Business Process Management Suite (BPMS) to increase flexibility in business process modeling. webMethods is the central data hub that runs the entire data exchange between the different internal and external IT systems from procurement to production, logistics to sales.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
Related Case Studies.
Case Study
Smart Water Filtration Systems
Before working with Ayla Networks, Ozner was already using cloud connectivity to identify and solve water-filtration system malfunctions as well as to monitor filter cartridges for replacements.But, in June 2015, Ozner executives talked with Ayla about how the company might further improve its water systems with IoT technology. They liked what they heard from Ayla, but the executives needed to be sure that Ayla’s Agile IoT Platform provided the security and reliability Ozner required.
Case Study
IoT enabled Fleet Management with MindSphere
In view of growing competition, Gämmerler had a strong need to remain competitive via process optimization, reliability and gentle handling of printed products, even at highest press speeds. In addition, a digitalization initiative also included developing a key differentiation via data-driven services offers.
Case Study
Remote Temperature Monitoring of Perishable Goods Saves Money
RMONI was facing temperature monitoring challenges in a cold chain business. A cold chain must be established and maintained to ensure goods have been properly refrigerated during every step of the process, making temperature monitoring a critical business function. Manual registration practice can be very costly, labor intensive and prone to mistakes.
Case Study
Predictive Maintenance for Industrial Chillers
For global leaders in the industrial chiller manufacturing, reliability of the entire production process is of the utmost importance. Chillers are refrigeration systems that produce ice water to provide cooling for a process or industrial application. One of those leaders sought a way to respond to asset performance issues, even before they occur. The intelligence to guarantee maximum reliability of cooling devices is embedded (pre-alarming). A pre-alarming phase means that the cooling device still works, but symptoms may appear, telling manufacturers that a failure is likely to occur in the near future. Chillers who are not internet connected at that moment, provide little insight in this pre-alarming phase.
Case Study
Premium Appliance Producer Innovates with Internet of Everything
Sub-Zero faced the largest product launch in the company’s history:It wanted to launch 60 new products as scheduled while simultaneously opening a new “greenfield” production facility, yet still adhering to stringent quality requirements and manage issues from new supply-chain partners. A the same time, it wanted to increase staff productivity time and collaboration while reducing travel and costs.
