A MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATION'S MOST TRANSFORMATIVE IDEAS ARE OFTEN FOUND ON THE FRONT LINES
Do you know where 80% of your company's best ideas come from?
TRANSFORMATION HEROES ARE EVERYWHERE
Keller Schroeder’s expert team can help you leverage your internal champions—your transformation heroes—to identify and implement innovative solutions that drive efficiency, productivity, and growth.
At Keller Schroeder, we understand the unique challenges manufacturing organizations face, and have deep experience with the technology solutions to help.
SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS CHALLENGES
WASTE & INEFFICIENCIES
WORKFORCE CONSTRAINTS
TRAINING ISSUES
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APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO FIGHT YOUR MANUFACTURING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION FOES
Toggle through the solutions below to learn more about key solutions Keller Schroeder can help you leverage to solve them, plus real-world examples of how we've seen solutions implemented.
SUPPLY CHAIN & LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS
Supply chain is the backbone of many businesses and managing supply chain is imperative. Managing it effectively creates a competitive advantage. The transformation heroes at your organization need solutions for supply chain planning and data insights. Whether it is determining current inventory levels or estimating shipping dates, we can help you get the right information to the right people at the right time.
Inventory Reports
Inventory Reports Use Case
A medical supply distributor in Kentucky needed to assure they had items in the warehouse when their key customers needed them. By reporting on average quantities ordered by key customers by month along with the typical lead time required for each supplier, we were able to help them optimize their stock levels so products could be shipped right away when customers needed them.
Key Takeaways
- Optimize technology to tackle supply chain challenges effectively.
- Streamline reports and communication for better decision-making.
- Leverage data-driven insights to enhance inventory management.
SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT
Supplier Management Use Case
Now more than ever it is important to be sure you are utilizing your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to its fullest. When purchasing materials for manufacturing or distribution, one of our clients sought to eliminate single points of failure in their supply chain. We worked with them to begin utilizing the alternative supplier/part capabilities in their ERP software. Having these fields populated and processes built around them gives them a solid Plan B when their supply chain experiences delays.
Key Takeaways
- Maximize ERP capabilities to reduce supply chain risks and dependencies.
- Implement alternative supplier/part features to prevent single points of failure.
- Develop processes around backup suppliers to ensure continuity during delays.
ERP SOFTWARE SERVICES
ERP Software Services Use Case
We have worked with companies who did not utilize an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software at all, some who had the wrong ERP for them, some who had an unsupported or outdated ERP, and some who were not using it to its full potential. Others needed to customize their ERP, chose to develop an entirely new one from scratch, or build new features outside their ERP that required integration with the base ERP system. The transformation heroes at your organization seek to utilize systems to their full potential. We can help fill the gaps in your ERP system by building and integrating the features you need into your base product.
Key Takeaways
- Identify and address gaps in ERP usage, whether due to outdated, unsupported, or misaligned systems.
- Customize, develop, or integrate new features to enhance ERP functionality and meet business needs.
- Maximize ERP potential by aligning it with operational goals through expert support and solutions.
ROUTE OPTIMIZATION
Route Optimization Use Case
Sometimes it makes more sense to focus on the challenges you can control rather than the ones you cannot. We have helped clients optimize their production schedules and shipments based on delivery routes and complex business rules involving Service Level Agreements with their key customers. Getting the right products on the right dock at the right time is an effective way to counteract the driver shortage, rising costs, and other logistical issues.
Key Takeaways
- Optimize production schedules and shipments to align with delivery routes and business rules.
- Improve efficiency by ensuring the right products reach the right dock at the right time.
- Mitigate logistical challenges like driver shortages and rising costs through route optimization.
DATA INTEGRATION
Data Integration Use Case
Speed and awareness play a vital role in supply chain management. Using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or Application Programming Interfaces (API), you can instantly exchange information with your customers and suppliers such as order acknowledgements, inventory levels, shipment notifications, order status updates, etc. You can optimize cash flow by sending and receiving payments electronically.
Key Takeaways
- Enhance supply chain efficiency with real-time data exchange using EDI or API for order updates and inventory tracking.
- Improve visibility and responsiveness by instantly sharing key information with customers and suppliers.
- Optimize cash flow by automating electronic payment processes.
QUALITY CONTROL MANAGEMENT
Quality Control Management Use Case
Quality products and services influence customer loyalty. To build a successful and sustainable business, your goods and services should consistently meet your customers’ standards. We help our clients take a closer look at their processes and procedures to ensure quality standards are met and continuous improvement is a priority. Transformation heroes drive positive impacts through continuous improvement and digital transformation in the forms of sustainable growth and competitive advantage, even in uncertain times.
Key Takeaways
- Ensure consistent product and service quality to meet customer standards and drive loyalty.
- Implement process improvements to maintain high quality and prioritize continuous improvement.
- Leverage digital transformation to achieve sustainable growth and a competitive edge.
OMNICHANNEL LOGISTICS
Omnichannel Logistics Use Case
E-commerce is increasing in popularity even as physical stores remain vitally important. Most businesses are looking for innovative ways to keep their doors open and serve their clients in safe and reliable ways in the face of uncertainty. Omnichannel supply chain allows for consumers to seamlessly shop from multiple channels. They will be able to purchase from your brick-and-mortar store as well as your online space while having the same shopping experience. Transformation heroes achieve this by incorporating systems and processes to seamlessly manage their inventory across all channels.
Key Takeaways
- Implement omnichannel logistics to provide a seamless shopping experience across online and physical stores.
- Optimize inventory management to ensure product availability across all sales channels.
- Enhance customer satisfaction and business resilience by integrating systems for safe and reliable service delivery.
WORKFORCE CONSTRAINTS SOLUTIONS
Email Orders
Email Orders Use Case
Let’s face it, some customers are not going to fully integrate with your systems using Business-to-Business (B2B) technology because it is more convenient for them to email purchase orders to you utilizing automations they already have in place. At one of our distribution clients, staffing shortages were slowing down order processing. An order entry clerk suggested the company invest in software that would automate the extraction of purchase orders from email attachments and convert them into orders within the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Once implemented, the resulting automation allowed more orders to be processed per day without the need to increase staff.
Key Takeaways
- Automate email order processing to overcome staffing shortages and increase efficiency.
- Integrate email purchase orders directly into the ERP system for faster order fulfillment.
- Improve productivity by reducing manual data entry and streamlining operations.
EMPLOYEE SELF-SERVICE
Employee Self-Service Use Case
A Human Resources (HR) generalist at a utility company commented to her supervisor that she was distracted from some of her responsibilities due to time spent repetitively answering similar questions in a day for different people. As a result, an internal HR search engine was deployed on the corporate intranet (dubbed “Ask HR”) to address commonly asked questions. Modern technology including chatbots and mobile applications takes employee self-service to a new level, saving both HR and employees considerable time and frustration while making a positive impact on your bottom line. Transformation heroes recognize the opportunity that automation presents in serving your employees.
Key Takeaways
- Implement employee self-service tools like chatbots and intranet search engines to reduce repetitive HR tasks.
- Save time and improve efficiency by providing employees instant access to common HR information.
- Enhance productivity and reduce frustration with modern, automated HR solutions.
CUSTOMER SELF-SERVICE
Customer Self-Service Use Case
A Customer Service supervisor at a manufacturing client recognized that order status inquiry calls on the toll-free phone lines cost the company significantly more than the estimated cost of implementing a customer self-service portal. In addition, high call volumes and long hold times negatively impacted customer satisfaction. Partnering with this transformation hero, we implemented a customer self-service portal and automated emails to inform customers of order status and shipping updates. As a result, our client was able to reassign some customer service representatives to the order entry department to assist in boosting the performance of that department.
Key Takeaways
- Implement a customer self-service portal to reduce call volumes and improve customer satisfaction.
- Automate order status and shipping updates to minimize reliance on customer service representatives.
- Reallocate staff to higher-value tasks, boosting overall departmental efficiency and performance.
VENDOR INTEGRATION
vendor Integration Use Case
Integration can flow upstream in the supply chain as well. The proliferation of Business-to-Business (B2B) integration has made information more readily available from your vendors’ systems, allowing you insights into inventory levels and schedules, as well as options for automating the purchasing process. Your transformation heroes can help you identify the vendors and scenarios that require most of their time so you can advance integration opportunities with those key vendors.
Key Takeaways
- Utilize B2B integration to access vendor inventory levels, schedules, and automate purchasing processes.
- Identify key vendors and time-intensive scenarios to prioritize integration opportunities.
- Improve efficiency and reduce manual workloads through upstream supply chain integration.
SALES AUTOMATION
sales Automation Use Case
Sales and marketing automation are rarely utilized to their full potential. In addition to tracking opportunities in a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, automating internal sales processes such as updating price lists, creating and sending quotes, releasing purchase orders, and streamlining approval workflows are huge time savers for the entire sales team. Your sales and marketing teams are often rich in transformation heroes whose ideas can help you address staff shortages and scale your business in these crucial areas.
Key Takeaways
- Maximize sales and marketing automation to save time on tasks like price updates, quotes, and purchase orders.
- Streamline approval workflows and internal sales processes to enhance team efficiency.
- Leverage ideas from sales and marketing teams to address staff shortages and scale operations effectively.
TRAINING ISSUE SOLUTIONS
Innovation Mindset
Innovation Mindset Use Case
Next-level business leaders know they need to create a culture where employees demonstrate Digital Transformation, Data-Driven, and Continuous Improvement mindsets. Change is occurring at a record pace affecting the way organizations function operationally, socially, and economically. It is important that your employees learn to identify and prioritize transformational initiatives and make data-driven decisions to thrive in the new economy.
Key Takeaways
- Foster a culture of digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement among employees.
- Equip employees to identify and prioritize transformational initiatives in a rapidly changing environment.
- Enable your team to adapt and thrive in the evolving operational, social, and economic landscape.
Hero Development
Hero Development Use Case
Two common gaps that are often overlooked in an organization are knowledge and utilization gaps. Some companies have highly capable people who simply need to be retooled in new areas. Others have systems and tools that are not being utilized to their full potential. When looking at people, processes, and technology, it often helps to have an external entity help you identify and address gaps that you may have overlooked. Once we teach your transformation heroes to identify opportunities for improvement, you will start to realize 4x the improvement potential in your organization (1).
(1) Robinson, Alan G., and Dean M. Schroeder. The Idea-Driven Organization: Unlocking the Power in Bottom-up Ideas. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2020.
Key Takeaways
- Address knowledge gaps by retooling capable employees in new areas to maximize their potential.
- Close utilization gaps by ensuring systems and tools are fully leveraged within the organization.
- Partner with external experts to identify overlooked opportunities and train teams to achieve significant improvement.
Process Review & Work Instructions
Process Review & Work Instructions Use Case
How can you ensure everyone in your organization is working as efficiently as possible? By having clear and detailed processes and work instructions! Processes are essential for every organization to minimize rework and make better use of each person’s time. Even organizations where processes and work instructions exist will benefit from reviewing and revising their documentation on a regular basis. We train your transformation heroes and help them streamline your processes and develop work instructions with the appropriate amount of detail to better serve current and future employees.
Key Takeaways
- Develop clear and detailed processes and work instructions to improve efficiency and reduce rework.
- Regularly review and update documentation to ensure processes remain effective and relevant.
- Train employees to streamline workflows and create precise work instructions for current and future staff.
Learning Management
Learning Management Use Case
An increasing number of clients recently have asked us for creative ways to deliver staff training and customer-focused educational products for their remote staff or customer base. Learning Management Systems (LMS) provide an immersive learning environment that can be used to elevate an onboarding process, train staff, or monetize your expertise on a subject matter. Onboarding new clients and employees should be a well-planned and tailored process for every organization. The onboarding process is the first look at how an organization manages itself, so participants will develop their first lasting impressions from it.
We utilize LMS platforms to create a seamless extension of your organization and improve the flow of complex onboarding and training processes. We build a structure that will grow with your organization by allowing the ability for content to be added and maintained over time. There is a range of learning styles, and we integrate all forms of media and feedback techniques that best suit your learning management needs.
Key Takeaways
- Implement Learning Management Systems (LMS) to enhance onboarding, staff training, and customer education with immersive experiences.
- Design tailored onboarding processes that create positive first impressions and reflect organizational efficiency.
- Build scalable LMS platforms with diverse media and feedback techniques to accommodate various learning styles and evolving needs.
WASTE & INEFFICIENCY SOLUTIONS
Invoicing
Invoicing Use Case
One of our clients had customers who found their billing statements hard to understand and reconcile their invoices. The result was frustration and often non-payment. The calls coming into customer service were a source of frustration for the call center staff who responded to similar questions over and over. A transformation hero in the customer service department suggested that the statement format be revamped to resemble the format of customer invoices more closely. Once implemented, payment rates increased dramatically because customers could more easily reconcile statements with invoices.
Key Takeaways
- Simplify billing statements to align with customer invoice formats, reducing confusion and frustration.
- Improve payment rates by making it easier for customers to reconcile statements with invoices.
- Reduce repetitive customer service inquiries, increasing efficiency and staff satisfaction.
Shipping Solutions
Shipping Solutions Use Case
Shipping clerks at a client were weighing packages on scales and manually entering the weights into the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Package weights were often typed incorrectly resulting in significant chargebacks from the freight carriers. A transformation hero recognized an opportunity to integrate the scales with the ERP system. Once implemented, the package weights were automatically populated in the ERP, eliminating chargebacks resulting in significant cost savings for the company.
Key Takeaways
- Integrate shipping scales with the ERP system to automate package weight entry and eliminate manual errors.
- Prevent chargebacks from freight carriers by ensuring accurate weight data.
- Achieve significant cost savings and improved efficiency through automation.
Electronic Delivery of Statements
Electronic Delivery of Statements Use Case
An office worker at a client was asked to come up with a plan for streamlining the delivery of statements to their customers. The plan was to purchase an expensive machine to process the mailing of thousands of statements. After an in-depth dive into their current systems, this transformation hero determined the process could be automated and that most statements could be configured to automatically be sent via email. The savings on postage alone was over $50,000 annually once implemented.
Key Takeaways
- Automate the delivery of customer statements, reducing reliance on manual mailing processes.
- Configure systems to send most statements via email, significantly cutting postage costs.
- Achieve over $50,000 in annual savings by streamlining statement delivery.
Rekeying Data
Rekeying Data Use Case
Rekeying data is not only one of the biggest time wasters in an organization, but also contributes in a big way to invalid data in your databases. Whether you are receiving faxes or emails, rekeying data from physical paper, or rekeying data from one screen to another, we can help you explore ways to automate the process using data integration. A transformation hero at one of our clients recognized an opportunity for digital transformation in their organization’s Accounts Payable processes. The resulting custom solution saved time, eliminated keying errors, and reduced expenses.
Key Takeaways
- Automate data entry processes to eliminate rekeying, saving time and reducing errors.
- Use data integration to streamline workflows for tasks like processing faxes, emails, and physical documents.
- Implement custom digital transformation solutions to optimize accounts payable and reduce expenses.