Hillman Group Secures Lean Manufacturing Initiatives With WebFOCUS and iWay
Company Size
1,000+
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- WebFOCUS business intelligence (BI) platform
- iWay data adapters
- WebFOCUS Performance Management Framework
- WebFOCUS InfoAssist
Tech Stack
- IBM WebSphere portal
- IBM iSeries
- Intel Linux
- Intel Windows
- Microsoft SQL Server databases
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Productivity Improvements
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Applicable Industries
- Equipment & Machinery
Applicable Functions
- Discrete Manufacturing
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Inventory Management
- Predictive Maintenance
- Warehouse Automation
Services
- Data Science Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
The Hillman Group is a leading supplier of small, inexpensive, durable hardware such as fasteners, keys, key duplication systems, tags, letters, numbers, and signs. Its customers are hardware stores, home centers, pet suppliers, mass merchants, and other retail outlets in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South America. The company operates three manufacturing facilities and eight distribution centers. Hillman Group was looking to improve productivity across its operations and decided to implement lean manufacturing initiatives. To support these initiatives, the company deployed the Information Builders WebFOCUS platform as its enterprise business intelligence (BI) standard and expanded its use of the software to draw information from a wide variety of transaction systems, thereby cutting costs and boosting efficiency throughout the organization.
The Challenge
The Hillman Group, a leading manufacturer of fasteners such as nuts, bolts, screws, and washers, was aiming to improve productivity at its three manufacturing facilities and eight distribution centers. The company wanted to implement lean manufacturing initiatives, which involve scrutinizing business processes to remove waste and eliminate unnecessary effort. However, these strategies work best when information related to production, supply, and distribution can be successfully synchronized. The company was facing challenges in accessing and analyzing data from a wide variety of transaction systems, which was crucial for cutting costs and boosting efficiency throughout the organization. Additionally, Hillman previously had 14 different methods for measuring open orders, leading to inconsistencies in sales reporting and forecasts.
The Solution
Hillman Group deployed the Information Builders WebFOCUS platform as its enterprise business intelligence (BI) standard. The company then expanded its use of the software to support lean manufacturing initiatives. Combined with data integration technology from Information Builders division iWay Software, WebFOCUS helps company personnel draw information from a wide variety of transaction systems. The company first used WebFOCUS to create Fill Rate Reports for the production team, and Daily Revenue Reports and Gross Margin Reports for the finance group. They integrated the reporting environment with an IBM WebSphere portal, which allows users to aggregate information from multiple sources onto a single desktop. Hillman also focused on its 800 salespeople, creating customer sales and analysis reports that reveal high-dollar accounts and year-to-year comparisons to help reps prioritize their activities. Now, one universal Open Order Report points everybody to the same information, improving accuracy and consistency in sales reporting and forecasts.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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