ITP
The implementation of IFS Applications at the ITP plant in Ajalvir, Spain, has provided considerable improvements in terms of inventory information and workshop usage. Moreover, maintenance activities have been optimised, and the company has much better control of configuration, with complete coverage for the entire lifecycle of its operations. Furthermore, IFS Applications gives ITP greater transparency of information with respect to inventory.
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Need to Integrate Existing Systems
Prior to the installation of IFS Applications, ITP used a number of disparate solutions to manage its business. It had Baan for manufacturing, inventory management, accounting, and company finance. To support its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) in its warehouse in Ajalvir, ITP had its own homegrown system called SIGMA, running on an Oracle database. ITP required a solution that would integrate with existing systems and unify the processes carried out in them. Other system requirements included the capacity for real-time inventory control, spares traceability, expiry control, and radio frequency technology.
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“The component structure of IFS Applications, IFS’ experience in, and understanding of, the aeronautic and defence world, and the inclusion of a PLM solution that focused on the MRO world and was able to communicate with other systems and environments were critical reasons for deciding to use IFS Applications.”
Alfonso Folguera, ITP
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Adaptation to Company Requirements
Alfonso Folguera, who is in charge of systems and planning at the ITP plant in Ajalvir explains why ITP chose IFS as its business software supplier: “We selected IFS for three main reasons: the component architecture of its business software, its experience in, and understanding of, in the aeronautic and defence world, and the fact that it IFS offered us a PLM solution that focused on the MRO world and that allowed us to communicate other systems and environments,”. ITP was also impressed by the robust structure and performance of IFS Applications, which ensured continuity and allowed the company to include technical characteristics with dynamic values to its lots/series with reservation and traceability features. The radio frequency identification (RFID) capabilities integrated into IFS Applications were another positive aspect of the solution. Greater Traceability and Control
“With the implementation of the IFS solution we maximised the power of our existing warehouse management system. By aligning our processes more closely to the methodology of IFS Applications and by adapting the software to our specific requirements, we now have a stable, future-proof platform to serve as the basis for real-time inventory management,“ explained Alfonso Folguera.
In addition, ITP can collect inventory information online for the production process by means of the RFID network. Employees working with handheld computers and wireless printers can locate, check, and despatch inventory to the workshop with maximum ease and agility. This guarantees that ITP can locate and trace material at all times, both in the warehouse and in the workshop. They also use the handheld computers to check productivity and performance statistics for the reception and storage processes.
The solution was implemented by a joint work team involving staff from ITP, IFS and its partner Atos Origin, and was carried out from May to October 2003.
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