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EMPOWERING FOOD PRODUCTION CHAINS!

The Schober Group built a new fresh

logistics center on the industrial estate

Hertener Mark, direct on the Autobahns

A42 and A43 in 2012, to take on the

storage, picking, packing and dispatch of

all of the products of the Nestlé subsidiary

Herta GmbH in Herten.

In a very short period of time, the SLA

Software Logistik Artland GmbH

implemented a system using custom

hardware and software for the accurate

execution of the processes, which have

since proven themselves to be stable and

flexible. Good news for businesses in

North-Rhine-Westphalia who are looking

for storage possibilities: there is still free

capacity!

FRESH LOGISTICS for the food industry

Management Summary

The family run business Schober, managed

by Steffen-Kai Schober, operates several

logistics sites for well-known food producers

in Germany. They all use modern

warehousing technologies combined with

powerful information technology systems.

A truck fleet of around 100 trucks and 180

trailers fulfil the transport duties and around

500 employees take care of the challenging

services, such as picking and packing.

The generously proportioned logistics center offers room for expansion

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That is why Nestlé chose Schober as their

partner, to build and run a new central

warehouse for the products made by Herta.

No simple task, then even small and specially

packaged products with short sell-by dates

need to be quickly and reliably delivered to

retails in Germany and the bordering

countries – the Herta quality guarantee

requires consistent and reliable fresh

logistics that has a turnaround measured in

hours!

LAVISHLY PLANNED OUTSOURCING

Built on a site with 2.8 hectares (nearly 7

acres), the logistic center, with 9,500

square meters (over 102,000 square feet)

of enclosed space, has storage space for

8,500 palettes and 2,000 square meters

(around 22,000 square feet) for packaging

and handling. 33 ramps allow for

permanent loading and unloading of

trucks. Additionally, trucks can be driven

through a roll-up door on the side of the

building, giving access to the hall, which is

normally cooled to three degrees Celsius

EMPOWERING FOOD PRODUCTION CHAINS!

Shelving with picking spaces: The generous amount of space as well as the standard software SLA ERP-Office Logistics facilitates error free processing

(37.4 Fahrenheit), but which can be split

into three different temperature zones as

needed.

The facility was finished on schedule and

handed over to Schober Logistik Herten

GmbH, which is part to the Schober Group.

WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT BY SLA

SLA, experts for process optimization in the

food industry, which had already

successfully completed many IT projects in

the production for Herta, took on the

installation of the warehouse management

system. Their project manager, Benjamin

Reim, had designed the existing logistics

solution at the old Herta site and therefore

knew the details of the required processes

as well as the requirements regarding data

transfer, customer specific labelling and

the hand-over to the haulier.

After the SLA implemented the most

important processes in a very short space of

time, the team won the trust of the operator

and their major customer, allowing them to

implement the SLA standard software “SLA

ERP-Office Logistics” also in the new

logistics center in Herten. Initially the

interfaces from SAP and the customer

specific customization in the areas of

storage and stock removal as well as picking

were implemented.

Likewise, all of the hardware, including

hand scanners and label printers were

delivered and implemented. After around 3

months of intensive work, the solution was

put into production in October 2012, without

affecting the delivery capability.

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Uwe Micke, director of Schober Logistik

Herten GmbH, said, “SLA understands the

requirements of the industry and can turn

them into working software solutions with

little communication overhead, that exceed

our expectations.” This was also

demonstrated by the further project phases,

where special processes, such as the

customer specific packing, the production

of shop-displays and special offers as well

as the commissioning of cases with special

selections of products, including the

optimization of said processes. Today four

servers, 12 desktop PCs and ten stainless-

steel industry PCs suitable for the food

industry, from SLA’s own production facility,

are installed.

EMPOWERING FOOD PRODUCTION CHAINS!

A simple GUI aids all employees in an error free process.

“The IPCs are ideally suited for the smooth,

continuous operation in all areas of the food

industry and operate reliably and error free

even under extreme conditions,” elucidated

Benjamin Reim, Project Manager at SLA.

Under peak load from 06:00 through to

22:00 up to 2,500 inventory changes are

booked, 100,000 cases and around 1,300

pallets are processed.

“SLA SOLVED A COMPLICATED CHALLENGE VERY

SUCCESSFULLY WITH COMPETENT CONSULTING

AND PUNCTUAL DELIVERY.”

S T E F F E N - K A I S C H O B E R , CEO of the Schober Group

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LOGISTICS 24/7

The delivery information from the

manufacturers SAP system is transferred

by Edifact as the goods arrive, using the in-

house shuttle service. The employees book

the deliveries using barcodes. To this end

there are robust industry PCs from SLA on

the delivery ramp, which allow for data

EMPOWERING FOOD PRODUCTION CHAINS!

YOUR ADVANTAGES WITH LOGISTICS

SOLUTIONS FROM SLA

• Exact execution of all logistics processes,

including custom processes.

• Fresh logistics at a new level

• User-friendly touch dialogs

• Simple and quick integration with existing ERP

systems

• ‘Data communication in real-time

• Complete integration of all peripherals,

systems and machiners

• Leading to a higher level of automation

(Industry 4.0 ready)

• Mobile scanning and mobile apps

• Complete traceability through the complete

logistics process

• Modular and therefore flexible and extendable/

customizable at any time

• Online/offline functionality

• 24/7 premium service

entry using a flexible and configurable

touch GUI and which show the user the

next steps. This reduces the likelihood of

errors and all users become quickly

accustomed with their operation.

Differences are reported immediately,

which are then taken care of to the last

detail by a single office worker. In the

meantime, 99.9% of all delivered quantities

are correct: “everything that runs over the

SLA software is flawlessly registered,” said

Uwe Micke. Following the delivery, the

software automatically choses the optimal

storage location for the goods. This takes

into account freshness and the expected

use, as well as the defined warehousing

strategy: fast turn-over items should be

reachable over the quickest route – items

which will be stored longer are given

quieter storage locations. This means that

there is hardly any waste. “We want to offer

the resulting efficiency and flexibility as

advantages to our customers,” said Uwe

Micke. The 60-strong special shifts

perform this roll for sales actions and

seasonal business as well as the occasional

Sunday.

“EVERY HOUR COUNTS, IN OUR ULTRA

FRESH BUSINESS.”

U W E M I C K E , CEO of Schober Logistik Herten GmbH

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EMPOWERING FOOD PRODUCTION CHAINS!

Packing: The automatic system on

the mezzanine is well supported by the

logistics software…

…which offers a wide range of functionality for the specific processes and products.

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MONITORING BY APP

So that the management can monitor the

current stock levels as well as the progress

in picking and dispatch, the SLA developed

a mobile App for smartphones. Once the

user has logged in, the app delivers

information in real time.

The clearly arranged UI offers the user

access to the picking, completed orders,

stock levels, availability, routes and

delivery quotas over a central menu. This

means that those responsible for deliveries

at Herta also receive the current state of

operations at the Schober Logistik Herten

GmbH facility. The most important data is

shown in graphical form through a

management cockpit.

EMPOWERING FOOD PRODUCTION CHAINS!

AUTOMATED PACKAGING

Production Orders are entered into the SLA

solution for automated packaging or the

construction of displays, which are fulfilled

on the mezzanine. The required articles

are booked off of individual pallets and

combined into a new unit. Customer

specific labels in diverse languages are

also part of the service, as well as sending

small packages, down to individual cartons

to the retailers. The dispatch data is

subsequently sent to the haulier using a

standard interface. When the goods are

dispatched, the labels are scanned and

booked out. Even Schober Logistik Herten

GmbH’s billing of their customers, based

on the handled volume, is taken care of by

the logistics software. At the same time

Sealing, packing and properly labelled –

all in a single, flowing process

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the manufacturer receives the invoice

quantities and inventory data by Edifact.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER

MANUFACTURERS

In early 2015 all of the processes were

optimized again, based on the captured

performance measurements. A modern

LED lighting system and constantly closed

doors have halved the energy costs; the EU

accreditation and certification to IFS 2.1,

ISO 22000 and ISO 9001 show the high

quality in stable, automated processes.

EMPOWERING FOOD PRODUCTION CHAINS!

“Thus we feel that we are prepared for new

challenges,” said Uwe Micke. For new

customers from the meat and cold cuts

industry or for dairy products, he can offer

space for around 4,000 pallets or 3,000

square meters’ storage. The flexible and

scalable solution from SLA is already

designed for this and can be easily

customized to meet new requirements.

“WITH THE SLA, WE HAVE FOUND A SERVICE PROVIDER THAT

REACTS JUST AS QUICKLY AND RELIABLY IN A 24/7 RHYTHM

AS WE DO. THIS MEANS THAT WE CAN JOINTLY MEET ALL OF

THE REQUIREMENTS AND WISHES OF OUR CUSTOMERS.”

U W E M I C K E , CEO Schober Logistik Herten GmbH

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SLA – EMPOWERING FOOD PRODUCTION CHAINS!The SLA Software Logistik Artland GmbH, based in Quakenbruck, has been

optimizing business and production processes in the food industry since 1995. With

extensive industry knowledge, ERP solutions are implemented, supplemented

and connected to all modern peripheral devices including RFID systems in the

production process in order to make company workflows more efficient, more secure

and more profitable. SLA is the market leader in Europe for solutions for meat

processing from slaughter on. A further business area is comprehensive internet

applications such as the Meat Integrity Solution (MIS) and industry portals such

as GLOBALG.A.P. as well as POS apps for sales. The company‘s own industry PCs

and software components for third-party providers complete its product range.

SLA‘s customers include GLOBALG.A.P., Bell, Pini Polonia,

Rügenwalder Mühle and MV Fleisch.

You can find more information online at www.sla.de.

SLA Software Logistik Artland GmbH

Friedrichstr. 30

D-49610 Quakenbrück

Tel: +49 (0) 5431 9480-0

Fax: +49 (0) 5431 9480-11

kontakt@sla.de

www.sla.de

Image rights:

SLA Software Logistik Artland GmbH, Quakenbrück

www.hightech.de 2016

EMPOWERING FOOD PRODUCTION CHAINS!