After using Infor VISUAL enterprise resource planning (ERP) for 20 years, Broshuis was looking for new functionalities, including better and integrated production planning, barcode scanning in the warehouse, more standardized automation and tighter logistics control. Broshuis is constantly innovating and monitoring the market to improve its products and customer service. A few years ago, it introduced a product configurator that allows customers to configure a trailer. The online tool provides direct insight into the target prices, which facilitates the selection process. After starting the automated parts factory, the next step toward the trailer factory of the future was taken by choosing a new ERP solution.
Five ERP vendors were selected from a long list of 15. Subsequently, three suppliers were invited to give a demonstration. Infor was ultimately chosen because of its extensive industry-specific functionalities for the factory, and the unique capabilities of its middleware solution, Infor ION. Infor was one of the few suppliers that could provide a solution that supports Broshuis’ two types of production (custom building and repetitive production) in the factory.
Broshuis now uses: Infor LN, Infor CloudSuite Configure Price Quote (CPQ), Infor ION, Infor Ming.le, and Infor Factory Track to manage the inventory components and automate Broshuis’ time registration. The solutions help the trailer manufacturer reduce management costs by using standard processes while maintaining product quality. The company also can profit from improved insights into organization-wide activities.
“We are seeing more and more robotization in trailer construction, and digitization and automation have also become more important in our market,” says Sjoerd Dekker, CFO at Broshuis. About the switch to Infor LN, he says: “We are very positive. What immediately stood out were the functionalities and integration possibilities. Our CPQ team can easily make offers without the intervention of the technical department, which means that lead times can be considerably shortened. Fine-tuning still needs to be done, but ultimately the solutions will help us reduce delivery times and stocks. Moreover, the data will be more accurate, and we can increase the reliability of our planning.”
“Broshuis is a wonderful company with a long history. It is what we call a ‘pearl’ in the Dutch manufacturing industry,” said Kees van den Houten, Infor Benelux country manager. “We are proud that our innovative solutions are used to further expand their position in the current challenging market.”
The Broshuis family business was founded in 1885 in Muiden, The Netherlands, and is the oldest manufacturer of trailers for special transport and container chassis. Its years of experience, technical knowledge and entrepreneurship ensure that the trailer manufacturer continuously introduces innovative solutions. In 1965, Broshuis launched the first extendable semi-low loader in the world. Broshuis customers include the Royal Netherlands Navy and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM).
