Lechler paints proud production picture with APS

Other improvements cited include increased reliability around customer delivery dates, reduced scheduling resource and increased productivity. Lechler site manager Luigi Malinverno says that the organisation undertook a lengthy selection process before deciding to implement Preactor 500 APS software for paint manufacturing. "We felt a need to improve our ability to manage the production process, and to reduce the time spent preparing and updating the production schedule," states Malinverno, explaining that the goal was being able to react more quickly to customer demands and improve punctuality. He gives the example of needing to be able to switch quickly between fulfilling sales orders and manufacturing stock piles for the warehouse. And he cites a requirement to optimise capacity utilisation, in terms of storage containers and paint production. Malinverno says that by gradually bringing the software into operation, the project team was able to improve data cleanliness iteratively and link the system to Lechler SAP system. "Preactor has proved to be suitable for typical chemical companies' manufacturing operating processes," said Malinverno. "The problems and constraints of the business can be modelled beyond the pure capacity utilisation of resources."