SCHWARZACH PACKAGING GMBH

Industry

Print/Paper/Packaging

Department

Production, sales, purchasing, logistics, finance, controlling

Region

Schwarzach, Austria

The customer

Schwarzach Packaging, with its approximately 335 employees, specialises in the production and finishing of fine cardboard and labels. Around 25 000 tonnes of cardboard and paper are processed annually on the company›s seven printing presses. The export share of the company, which was founded in 1913, is 70 per cent. Above all, companies in Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein and Germany rely on the fine packaging from Schwarzach.

Initial situation

To evaluate production data, the printing company previously used an OLAP-based solution that no longer met the company`s increased requirements in terms of processing speed and user comfort.

"On the one hand, the process was very cumbersome,“ explained Arno Amann, Controlling & Project Management, Schwarzach Packaging, ”and on the other hand, accessing data on the live systems took a very long time. In some cases, we had to wait a whole hour for the query results."

The Offsetdruckerei was looking for a powerful business intelligence solution that could automatically retrieve and link data from all required source systems. These include the ERP system proALPHA, an in-house production data acquisition system and a warehouse management system for the high-bay warehouse. The Offsetdruckerei Schwarzach also attached importance to the greatest possible flexibility in the creation of analyses.

Schwarzach Packaging was looking for a powerful business intelligence solution that would enable data from all necessary source systems to be automatically retrieved and linked. These included the proALPHA ERP system, the company›s own production data acquisition system, and a warehouse management system for the high-bay warehouse. The printing company also placed great importance on maximum flexibility in the creation of analyses.

Solution

While searching for the right solution, the printing company was advised to take a closer look at Qlik›s software. “We saw QlikView in use at a  company in our region and were quickly convinced that this solution was exactly right for us.» The straightforward connectivity of various data sources and the uncomplicated creation and adaptation of analyses were convincing factors. The memory-based technology of the BI solution enables the consolidation of relevant data from various sources in a single application. Users can examine data in all directions using a self service procedure and evaluate it independently.

Schwarzach Packaging placed the BI project in the experienced hands of the ppmc group. The Liechtenstein-based business consultant and service provider is a certified Qlik Select Channel Partner and has already carried out numerous projects for companies in the DACH region, among others. In addition to ppmc expertise and specialist knowledge, its geographical proximity is also highly valued. «Working together face to face, quickly understanding the problem, and ppmc´s solution-oriented approach led to initial results very quickly. It also gave me the opportunity to look over the experts shoulders and learn how to use QlikView.

Today, I do 90 percent of the work of creating new applications or making adjustments to existing ones on my own. ppmc supports me with very complex requirements,» says Arno Amann. Within four weeks, QlikView was implemented, the data model was created, and an initial analysis application was made available. Schwarzach Packaging successfully uses QlikView & QlikSense for its daily work processes. Employees were already familiar with QlikView, which made the transition to QlikSense a smooth one. After a brief training session from us, they were able to quickly find their way around—only minor adjustments to navigation and handling were necessary.

Areas of application and benefits

A wide range of applications are now being used productively in QlikView and QlikSense by around ten employees in the production, sales, purchasing, logistics, finance, and controlling departments. Key figures such as throughput, utilization rate, scrap rate, and quality rate are generated and analyzed to control production—something that helps identify untapped potential or performance declines at an early stage. At the sales level, sales and sales volume analyses are available according to criteria such as “sales representative” or “customer.” Another application includes evaluations of inventory levels based on turnover frequency, number of storage locations, delivery delays, delivery reliability, etc.. Qlik is used for analyzing operational data and cost center sheets as part of cost accounting. “Every morning, I spend fifteen minutes getting an overview of the most important performance indicators, incoming orders, order and inventory levels, and sales. This allows me to quickly get up to speed and immediately address any discrepancies that arise,” says Arno Amman.

Inventory analyses and production figures for all departments are communicated to management on a regular monthly basis, as are ad hoc evaluations on special topics such as risk assessment and in-depth analyses in report form. Schwarzach Packaging benefits from significantly faster data provision, as Arno Amann confirms: «In the past, for example, our inventory analysis took two hours to produce a result. With Qlik, the current data is imported overnight, and the next day, one click is all it takes to access the information. «In addition, data from any system can be evaluated in a single platform, which significantly increases the range of evaluations. Furthermore, Qlik´s drill-down/drill-through functionalities allow for much more detailed analysis.

Information distribution

Since 2023, Schwarzach Packaging has been using the Mail & Deploy reporting tool for the automated distribution of decision-relevant reports. At individually defined intervals, managers receive the specific information they need—at exactly the right time. In this way, we promote active, efficient information provision that supports our decision-making processes and can be flexibly expanded as needed.

ppmc was the driving force behind this initiative, accompanying the implementation and conducting training sessions. In addition, ppmc is available as a reliable support and assistance provider whenever needed, whether for technical questions, adjustments, or further development of the solution.

Future

In further project steps, the existing applications will be further expanded. In addition, a complete dashboard for management is planned, containing the most important current figures as well as those of the last two years for comparison purposes. Furthermore, QlikView is to be used in the area of finance in order to be able to process the month-end closing more quickly.

About Qlik

Qlik transforms complex data landscapes into actionable insights that contribute to business success. More than 40,000 customers worldwide use our portfolio, which stands for modern, business-ready AI/ML and consistently high data quality. Our strengths are data integration and data governance, and we offer comprehensive solutions that work with a wide variety of data sources. Qlik›s intuitive real- time analytics uncover hidden patterns and enable teams to overcome complex challenges and capitalize on new opportunities. Our practical and scalable AI/ML tools lead to better decisions faster. As a strategic partner, we improve our customers› competitiveness with our platformindependent technology and expertise.

About ppmc

ppmc has been a recognized expert in customized business intelligence solutions and digitalization consulting since 2007. ppmc provides comprehensive support to customers in the Alpine Rhine Valley and the DACH region, as well as international companies, ranging from consulting, licensing, installation, development, and training to support. ppmc covers the key areas of data strategy, data integration, data analytics, data reporting, and data governance & compliance, and supports companies in the sustainable optimization of their data landscapes. With a deep understanding of individual requirements, ppmc creates solutions that are not only technically impressive, but also strategically effective.