McLaren Mercedes races on SAP software

Formula One Team McLaren Mercedes has selected SAP’s All-in-One ERP software to speed and optimise engineering, production and race tactics at its Formula One engine division, Mercedes-Ilmor. The team is rolling out it.automotive, a development of the system by SAP specialist itelligence, to integrate engine design, development and production data, and to improve collaboration among its project groups. By providing management, engineering and track-side teams with real-time information on the lifecycle status and performance of 5,000-plus engine components, the company aims to speed up engineering innovations. Meanwhile, at race events, the system will help teams to make the best decisions on which engine parts to reuse, replace, rebuild or scrap. “Team McLaren Mercedes’ success depends on our ability to quickly and consistently develop, assemble and deliver our products from the workshop to the racetrack in the best possible quality,” says Martin Whitmarsh, CEO, Formula One, Team McLaren Mercedes. “With greater transparency and availability of essential information, our project teams are best equipped to bring peak-performance engines and product innovations to the race track more quickly, improving competitive edge.” From development and production in the workshop to testing and delivery at the various race locations around the globe, the new system will provide Mercedes-Ilmor project teams with faster access to a single, integrated data source. The system’s integration with the company’s CAD applications will also help ensure high availability and consistency of parts lists, CAD drawings and technical documentation. Project teams will manage their data and documentation with SAP’s cProjects collaboration tool, enabling tighter coordination among teams fitting parts together for each engine, and also supporting race preparation as well as mid-term optimisation and long-term development for next generation engines. SAP software will maintain master data on part specifications, and automatically link BoMs to capacity planning and back-office financials. By mapping its procurement processes to the SAP software, Mercedes-Ilmor reckons it will also get better at recognising its best-quality suppliers, controlling costs and definnig quality standards and delivery times.