Download PDF
Aeroflex Improves Efficiency and Lowers Costs With Affordable, Cloud-Based TMS
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases
- Supply Chain Visibility
- Fleet Management
- Predictive Maintenance
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
- System Integration
- Training
The Challenge
Aeroflex USA, a building products manufacturer, faced significant challenges in managing its complex global logistics network. The company relied on manual processes and traditional communication methods like phone, fax, and email to handle truckload (TL), less-than-truckload (LTL), and ocean shipments across multiple distribution centers. Despite having invested in a Microsoft Dynamics solution for material requirements planning (MRP), Aeroflex found traditional transportation management systems (TMS) to be prohibitively expensive. The company needed a cost-effective, user-friendly TMS that required minimal IT overhead to improve supply chain efficiency.
About The Customer
Aeroflex USA, Inc. is a global manufacturer specializing in building products, particularly insulation tubes and sheets marketed under the Aerocel® brand. These products are used in commercial pipe and duct systems to save energy and prevent condensation in heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and refrigeration systems worldwide. The company operates a complex logistics network involving truckload (TL), less-than-truckload (LTL), and ocean shipments through multiple distribution centers. Aeroflex USA is committed to improving its supply chain efficiency and reducing logistics costs while maintaining high standards of customer service and product quality.
The Solution
Aeroflex selected Cloud Logistics by e2open, a cloud-based TMS solution, to address its logistics challenges. The new system was implemented within 90 days, offering configurable process workflows, unique user experiences, alerts, dashboard widgets, and ad-hoc reporting. Cloud Logistics provided a self-service (SaaSS) solution that automated most logistics processes, from order processing to tendering, rating, tracking, and freight payment. The system allowed Aeroflex to see customer orders and last-minute revisions in real-time, manage orders via email or text alerts, and conduct centralized automated carrier selection and tendering. Additionally, the solution enabled the company to consolidate orders, create shipping documents, connect directly to carriers via EDI, and generate reports on carrier costs and shipping data.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
Related Case Studies.
Case Study
Remote Monitoring & Predictive Maintenance App for a Solar Energy System
The maintenance & tracking of various modules was an overhead for the customer due to the huge labor costs involved. Being an advanced solar solutions provider, they wanted to ensure early detection of issues and provide the best-in-class customer experience. Hence they wanted to automate the whole process.
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
Aircraft Predictive Maintenance and Workflow Optimization
First, aircraft manufacturer have trouble monitoring the health of aircraft systems with health prognostics and deliver predictive maintenance insights. Second, aircraft manufacturer wants a solution that can provide an in-context advisory and align job assignments to match technician experience and expertise.
Case Study
Integral Plant Maintenance
Mercedes-Benz and his partner GAZ chose Siemens to be its maintenance partner at a new engine plant in Yaroslavl, Russia. The new plant offers a capacity to manufacture diesel engines for the Russian market, for locally produced Sprinter Classic. In addition to engines for the local market, the Yaroslavl plant will also produce spare parts. Mercedes-Benz Russia and his partner needed a service partner in order to ensure the operation of these lines in a maintenance partnership arrangement. The challenges included coordinating the entire maintenance management operation, in particular inspections, corrective and predictive maintenance activities, and the optimizing spare parts management. Siemens developed a customized maintenance solution that includes all electronic and mechanical maintenance activities (Integral Plant Maintenance).