Vhf tools GmbH, based in Ammerbuch near Stuttgart, is part of the vhf Group and develops and produces carbide and other tools for milling, cutting, thread milling, engraving, chamfering and more. The CNC tools from vhf are manufactured on modern six-axis precision grinding centers.
The challenge: high manufacturing complexity and inefficient planning
Production at vhf tools is characterized by a broad vertical range of manufacture and a large order volume. Between 300 and 400 production orders have to be coordinated per planning run in the area of CNC tool production. The frequent and complex set-up processes in particular require a lot of additional time and resources. Until now, this planning was mainly carried out using Excel spreadsheets in combination with an ERP system. “Our previous system quickly reached its limits due to the large number and complexity of orders. The manual planning processes led to considerable time delays and made reliable production planning more difficult,” explains Benedikt FrĂĽh, Production Manager at vhf tools GmbH.
All these factors called for a solution that would enable optimized production planning. The objectives were clear: the planning effort needed to be significantly reduced, production efficiency increased and adherence to deadlines improved.
Well equipped with APS GANTTPLAN from DUALIS
vhf tools opted for the GANTTPLAN APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling) system from DUALIS. The solution’s hybrid 3-tier architecture ensures that the system can react flexibly and scalably to the requirements of modern production operations.
GANTTPLAN offers numerous functions for advanced production planning, including setup optimization. By creating optimization groups based on the geometric properties of the blanks, efficient setup matrices can be developed. At vhf tools today, this not only leads to a significant reduction in changeover times, but also to optimal machine utilization.
Central data bundling and greater transparency
The APS system enables knowledge and data to be bundled centrally. The solution has interfaces to the existing ERP system (SOU matrix) and the Novatime personnel deployment time recording system (PZE). As a result, all data flows directly into production planning, which enables real-time monitoring of staff attendance and optimal resource utilization, among other things.
“Before the introduction, a lot of information was scattered across different systems or only stored in the heads of the employees. Now we have all data centrally available in one place, accessible to every team member,” emphasizes Benedikt FrĂĽh and continues: “This centralization not only makes day-to-day work easier, but also ensures improved training for new employees.”
Through parallel comparisons with the previous planning routine, a deeper understanding of the new processes can be developed. This enables those involved, for example, to better understand strategic decisions such as bringing forward certain orders or relocating to alternative workstations and to recognize their background more clearly.
APS introduction significantly reduces planning effort
“What we used to plan in two days, we can now do in just two hours,” explains Benedikt FrĂĽh, underlining the enormous leap in efficiency that the company has achieved through the introduction of GANTTPLAN. With such a reduction in planning effort, vhf tools not only benefits from considerable time savings, but also from significantly increased reliability in production planning. “Now I can go on vacation without any worries and know that production will continue to run smoothly,” says Benedikt FrĂĽh.
DUALIS GmbH IT Solution
Founded in 1990, DUALIS GmbH IT Solution – a subsidiary of iTAC Software AG and part of the DĂĽrr Group – specializes in the development of software and services for simulation, process optimization and production planning. The product range includes the APS system GANTTPLAN, the 3D simulation platform Visual Components and the hall planning tool AREAPLAN. DUALIS products are integrated in numerous well-known applications in large-scale industry and in medium-sized companies in the production and service sectors. Consulting and services for strategic and operational planning round off the DUALIS range of services.
The DĂĽrr Group is a leading global mechanical and plant engineering company with particular expertise in the technology fields of automation, digitalization and energy efficiency. Its products, systems and services enable highly efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes – primarily in the automotive industry and for manufacturers of furniture and wooden houses, but also in industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical products, electronics and battery production. In 2024, the company generated sales of € 4.7 billion. The DĂĽrr Group has around 20,000 employees and 139 locations in 33 countries.
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Further links
👉 www.dualis-it.de
Photo: DUALIS GmbH IT Solution
