European SAP roll-out at Yazaki

SAP service provider UNIORG supports the European subsidiary of automobile supplier Yazaki in the standardization of business processes and integrates a complete SAP solutions portfolio.

Cologne, July 17, 2007 - The demands on automotive suppliers are constantly increasing, and this not merely with regard to performance targets of the manufacturers but also within individual brands, whose construction is sometimes entirely, sometimes partially outsourced. In this case, suppliers who can offer solutions quickly and with absolute flexibility are at a great advantage versus the competition. This means that company IT must also match the permanent evolutions.

To set business processes and IT onto an homogeneous technical foundation--this was the task confronting Salim Siddiqi, CIO of Yazaki Europe, in 2004. The objective of Project YESS (Yazaki Enterprise Standard Solution), to be achieved by the end of 2008 with the support of SAP service provider Uniorg, is a Europe-wide unified system landscape with consolidated master data, a central SAP solution for all business administration tasks, along with numerous access modules for data exchange (EDI), design (CAD) or process control.

Following an evaluation phase lasting several months, Yazaki settled on the solution offered by Walldorf's SAP Inc., including SAP Business Warehouse. Uniorg already supported Yazaki in developing the model processes and with the project pilot. Numerous business processes had to be improved beforehand or completely redesigned. The first pilot installation began in early 2006 in Turkey. At present, three additional roll-outs are proceeding in parallel. By the end of 2008, up to 2,000 employees at 25 Yazaki sites across Europe will be working with the new system.

"Today, the production of supplier parts for a vehicle series can be extended or transferred to another plant without any problem", is Siddiqi's comment on the multiple advantages of the new solution. "Precise management of the production chain helps us keep our inventories as low as possible. We can determine exactly when and where each material was used. The new system helps us compress the delivery chain, avoid duplicate work and reduce costs", Siddiq exclaims.

Today, Yazaki plans and controls the entire production with SAP; the subcontractors are also integrated into the process, which is a novelty. Admittedly, before YESS Yazaki already worked with standardized solutions and had integrated the table of accounts along with reporting. Yet dissimilar business processes at companies in different countries brought about numerous variants of the programs. Circa 75% are now standardized across Europe. For the remaining quarter, subsidiaries can freely choose from a solutions portfolio, or apply a completely different solution. "It was a conscious decision not just to completely impose SAP, but to leave the subsidiaries some play; which turns out to be absolutely necessary to success of the project, and in the final analysis, to that of the company", Siddiqi insists.

Yazaki Europe

Yazaki is worldwide supplier to the automotive industry. The first European branch was started in 1980. The group has two European headquarters, one in Hemel Hempstead, near London, the other in Cologne. Yazaki produces onboard networks, wiring harnesses, connecting systems and onboard instruments Research, development and service centers are located in proximity to the customers. With hundreds of partner companies in 38 countries and over 150,000 employees, the group has a global presence. Yazaki Europe employs about 21,000 people in 19 countries where it staffs 20 sales offices, 15 plants and 4 research centers.

The companies of Dortmund-based UNIORG Group(www.uniorg.de), with their roughly 120 employees, offer businesses of any size and industry a wide array of products and services for the solution and implementation of all requirements arising in design, development, modernization and operation of company-wide IT systems. Among these are all aspects of classic SAP consulting, supplementary business solutions such as online shops and Enterprise Content Management Systems on a Lotus Notes or PHP basis, as well as cross-company integration of business administration information systems. For over 30 years, the certified SAP partner has enjoyed a sterling reputation with its clients. These include well-known groups such as Moeller, Yazaki and Philips, along with numerous medium-size companies in various industries, e.g., Denon/Marantz, Dr. R Pleger Pharmaceuticals, VEKA or Atlas Copco Energas.

UNIORG Group, Märkische Straße 239a,
44141 Dortmund, phone: 0231 / 94 97-0 • fax; 0231 / 94 97-199 • www.uniorg.de

Dr. Peer Walter Jahn, p.jahn@uniorg.de