First milestone successfully completed
The migration of our current SAP system to S/4 HANA lays the foundation for the further digitization of KAMAX. The update will enable us to work in a more modern and integrated way and to rely more on harmonized solutions that all locations worldwide can use. With S/4HANA, we can also introduce robot-driven applications in the production facilities and further automate processes. The system has now been rolled out for the first time at the plant in Jintan (China).
Do we still need it or can it go away?
For the global implementation of S/4HANA, which will continue until 2026 [see KXpress 2022/01], all processes at KAMAX must be identified, evaluated and documented. Which processes will still be needed in the future? Which ones will be dropped? And will new ones be added? The question of which differences at the sites need to be taken into account individually must also be clarified in advance. With regard to the go-live in Jintan, this meant intensive weeks and months of collaboration, system adjustments and planning for the project team - Corona and remote work notwithstanding.
Here, processes were and are being set up and developed from scratch, so that the plant can serve as a role model. The program went live there in July; a first success story on the longer road to company-wide implementation.
International S/4HANA project team at digital "Lessons Learned" workshop
Looking to the future together as a learning organization
The goal is to extend the rollout now underway to all other KAMAX sites year by year, so that in about four years we will have a consistent system in place. This makes it all the more important to draw the right conclusions from the initial introduction phase. What went well? What perhaps didn't? The team summarized all this in a virtual "lessons learned" session with 40 colleagues. The format was intended to help maintain constant quality; to make sure that the individual project results are coherent and that everyone can work well together. Always with the goal of learning from experience, taking lessons learned into the next phase, and not creating divergent customized solutions.
Success requires openness and a digital mindset
The project is a good example of collaboration as ONE KAMAX. In the future, other departments will also be more deeply involved in the introduction of the system. After all, the success of the project is not just in the hands of the project team, but of all KAMAX employees. Since almost all of us use SAP in our day-to-day work - sometimes more, sometimes less.
And for all of you who are still wondering: Who is actually HANA? Be excited and curious, soon you will be able to ask your questions.
KXpress
