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Schmitz Cargobull Enhances Supply Chain Visibility with Everstream Analytics
Technology Category
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization
- Sensors - Level Sensors
Applicable Industries
- Automotive
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Last Mile Delivery
- Supply Chain Visibility
The Challenge
Schmitz Cargobull AG, Europe’s leading manufacturer of semi-trailers and trailers, faced a significant challenge in managing its complex supply chain. The company, which produces over 45,000 vehicles annually and has a turnover of €1.6 billion, operates on a global scale with plants across Europe and Asia. Following rapid business growth and expansion into new geographies, Schmitz Cargobull needed better supply chain visibility and transparency on logistics flows, right down to component level. The company's trailer customers can typically change their order right up to the point of production, and some custom-built items must be urgently produced within 18 hours. The trailer subsector also features high demand volatility, requiring just-in-time and 100% make-to-order inbound supply chain processes. Schmitz Cargobull aimed to obtain a global yet detailed view of daily events, especially those impacting their own production sites or their global supplier base. They also wanted to improve efficiency and reduce logistics costs by building awareness and knowledge of Tier 1 suppliers and the outbound distribution network.
About The Customer
Schmitz Cargobull AG is a family-run German company and Europe’s leading manufacturer of semi-trailers and trailers. The company attributes its success to its comprehensive brand strategy, consistent quality standards, and fulfilment of delivery promises despite short lead times and high demand volatility. The company operates on a global scale, with plants across Europe and Asia, and requires optimal network transparency to handle longer, more complex supply chains featuring greater interdependencies. Schmitz Cargobull has a broad supplier base located in 19 countries; these suppliers input to a total of 8 production facilities, and there are drop-off points for finished trailers in 25 countries.
The Solution
Everstream Analytics provided Schmitz Cargobull with an interactive global map of its end-to-end supply chain to capture the logic of network interdependencies both upstream and downstream. This solution provided a multi-tiered view of all key component suppliers and logistical locations. Easy-to-use search and filter capabilities enabled Schmitz Cargobull supply chain executives to monitor products, parts, materials, and other sub-network attributes. For Schmitz Cargobull, supply chain visualization identified two significant risks: potential bottlenecks in the road network located in the southeastern region of Europe and the relative unfamiliarity of operating in China. Everstream customized a supply chain incident monitoring platform that provides 24/7 near real-time alerting and feedback loops on disruption occurring anywhere in the world. The platform also provides a feature to manually add incidents, enabling Schmitz Cargobull to quickly disseminate information about its network incidents across the organization. The flexibility of the Everstream Analytics solution meets Schmitz Cargobull’s specific needs, including a customized product view that connects sites and products according to the customer’s organizational structure.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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