Holz Schmidt in Cölbe has been part of the Belgian Wood & Energy Group since 2015 and, with its 90 employees, is an important production site for solid structural timber (KVH). With an annual production of 160,000 m³ of KVH, the company is a major player in the industry.
Markus Velz, IT Manager at Wood & Energy, reports on how the introduction of the TimberTec Intrascan scanner solution not only ensured complete transparency in warehouse management, but also eliminated search times, reduced errors and made the day-to-day work of the forklift drivers easier.
More transparency for increasing requirements
Holz Schmidt has relied on TimberTec's digital support since the DOS era. TiCom ERP was then introduced in 2016, followed by the integration of TiCom Glulam AV (work preparation) into the production control system in 2023.
However, as production volumes increased, the need for even more precise stock control grew. "Our KVH raw materials were spread across the entire site," recalls Markus Velz. "We knew that we needed a digital solution for warehouse management."
Digitalization with scanners
The decision in favor of a scanner solution was made quickly. A few years ago, Cölbe began using the first mobile devices for loading. But there was a problem: the Windows CE-based scanners used were prone to errors and unreliable. A real change came with the switch to TimberTec Intrascan based on Android. The Windows CE devices were replaced and all forklift drivers were equipped with scanners.
*Images provided by Wood & Energy
Track every package in real time
Every package movement is now recorded and documented. Previously, packages were stored in the warehouse after production and only recorded again when the next booking was made. In between, parcels could change storage locations several times - without any digital trace.
"Now it doesn't matter whether a package comes from production, is rebooked or prepared for loading - every movement is scanned," says Velz. "Our forklift drivers know exactly where each package is at all times. The search times that used to cost us so much time and nerves have completely disappeared."
The effects were immediately noticeable:
- The error rate fell to almost zero because only scanned packages were included on the delivery bill.
- The loading process became more efficient as all packages were found immediately.
- The employees quickly got used to the new solution and no longer want to do without it.
Successful investment in digital processes
The use of Intrascan is a decisive step towards modern warehouse management. However, the improvements go beyond pure traceability: cooperation between the plants has become more efficient, as it is now always known exactly which raw materials are still available. This not only saves time, but also unnecessary transportation costs.
And the employees? They are happy about the changeover today. "Whether it's the loading process or stock booking - there are no more uncertainties. And that feels better for everyone," summarizes Velz.
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