10 years of ERP at MKT
Review, milestones and future plans
On May 11, 2015, an important milestone was set at MKT: our ERP system officially launched. Ten years later, we can look back on a successful introduction, continuous development and a great deal of joint progress. An occasion to honor this anniversary with a short review and at the same time to give an outlook on the next steps.
A big step: the launch
The introduction of an ERP system is a complex process that requires careful planning, clear objectives and intensive collaboration. At MKT, we have decided to embrace this digital future – with the aim of increasing efficiency, transparency and data quality and optimizing our processes completely.
After intensive planning, the time had come on May 11, 2015: our first article was activated in the new ERP system. On June 2, 2015, the first order, jumbo rolls with a total length of 2,800 meters, was delivered on time and in the desired quantity. Even then, it was clear that the decision was the right one, as many of the foundations we laid over ten years ago still form the basis of our daily work today.
Ten years of development in numbers
A lot has happened since the first production feedback in May 2015. Our ERP database has grown to several hundred gigabytes. Metaphorically speaking – if you equate each individual data record to a line just 1 mm long, this results in a 60,000 km long data tape that could circle the earth one and a half times.
The turnover booked via the ERP has developed positively since its introduction and the number of orders has increased significantly. Although the average delivery quantities have decreased, but the variety and individuality have increased significantly. In 2017, we produced around 6,500 different articles. In 2024, this had already risen to over 9,700 articles. Including around 900 samples in the last year alone, which means an average of 4 per day!
Over 4 million labels have been generated so far, around 3,000 stock movements have been booked into the system every day and more than 100 computers access the ERP every day. But behind these numbers are above all people. Without the commitment of our employees, this progress would not have been possible.
Challenges and opportunities
The world is becoming more digital, faster and even more complex. At MKT, we are also constantly faced with new requirements: smaller quantities, more orders, greater diversity of variants. Our ERP system helps us to master this change – through automated workflows, lean processes and precise data. Without this technological basis, we would not be able to cope with the increased complexity today. At the same time, it is essential that we stay receptive to innovation – as a company and as individual contributors.
Looking to the future
ERP remains the backbone of our digital corporate management and is growing continuously. An MES system, a powerful data warehouse and modern scanner technology now complement the digital infrastructure.
Current projects show the way forward: internal samplings will soon also be mapped in the ERP. The master sample warehouse was recently digitalized and dynamized. In production, we are aiming for even closer integration with production planning and production feedback. The automation of data acquisition – particularly in production, quality control and logistic – is clearly in focus.
In ERP alone, we work on around 100 projects every year. Some of these – for example for improved production planning or for direct data connection to our customers – are currently particularly groundbreaking.
Conclusion
Ten years of ERP at MKT stands for progress, teamwork and digital expertise. If we continue to move forward with the same determination, curiosity and creativity as before, we can look forward to a successful future with confidence.
