Colors, colors, colors - as far as the eye can see. Marabu GmbH & Co. KG is one of the world's leading manufacturers of screen, digital and pad printing inks, headquartered in the technology region of Stuttgart. For more than 150 years, Marabu has been developing ink series that repeatedly set milestones worldwide in both industrial and graphic applications, standing for high-quality special inks with the "Made in German"" quality label. In addition, there is the traditional business unit Creative Colors for hobby, art and school.
Continuous growth and increasing customer requirements necessitate changes and process optimizations in the warehouse in order to ensure future viability and competitiveness in the long term and to be able to meet customer demands in the long term. In addition to basic requirements for the new warehouse management software, a solution was also sought at this point that could also be flexibly adapted and expanded in the future to the growth of the company. Challenge accepted - so Marabu decided to implement the WMS (Warehouse Management Software) SuPCIS-L8 as part of a modernization project. First at the site in Bietigheim-Bissingen and then also at the warehouse in Tamm.
A major challenge in the modernization project was that the changeover from the old to the new processes had to be carried out during ongoing operations. To ensure that the changeover was as trouble-free as possible, an intensive test phase was carried out and completed in advance.
With the introduction of the WMS SuPCIS-L8, Marabu has since been using all the advantages of modern warehouse management software. From goods receipt to picking and shipping, the WMS SuPCIS-L8 ensures smooth and digital processes in the paint manufacturer's warehouse. In addition, integration with the ERP system of IFS Deutschland GmbH enables the WMS to provide information on order progress and the current inventory situation in real time.
Successfullogistics strategy - solving warehouse challenges efficiently
When designing the warehouse strategies, the project partners S&P and Marabu focused on uniform processes for both sites. Processes and strategies that are used with the WMS SuPCIS-L8 in Bietigheim-Bissingen can also be found at the warehouse location in Tamm. By digitizing the processes, a flexible and transparent material flow was made possible. In addition, mobile consolidation, packaging and loading processes were introduced and optimized in accordance with the applicable handling regulations.
At both sites, Marabu also relies on the integration of hazardous materials handling. A large proportion of the items stored at Marabu are hazardous materials, so they have to be labeled and declared accordingly for transport. The necessary hazardous material data is transferred to the warehouse management system via an interface to the ERP system. The same applies to the reference weights that have to be taken into account for the various shipping options. By managing hazardous materials with SuPCIS-L8, Marabu has a control function for the entire process, a transparent supply chain and the best possible handling of its hazardous materials in the warehouse, which reduces the potential for danger. Another special feature at Marabu is returns processing. To ensure that returns can be collected quickly and autonomously in the WMS, the data of the outbound deliveries is retained in the WMS, which can then be easily referenced in the event of a return.
Efficientand transparent interaction for a colorful future
Integrated multi-order picking ensures route-optimized and paperless picking at both locations. However, while pick & pack picking is used in Bietigheim-Bissingen, the employees in Tamm use MDE devices to pick orders in skeleton containers. The use of mobile printers also makes it possible to mark the goods and apply shipping labels to the packages ready for dispatch during picking, thus reducing the time spent at the packing station. The result: modern warehousing with minimized travel times, maximum efficiency and a reduction in the ecological footprint. As a result, Marabu has been a climate-neutral company since 2021 and has thus been able to achieve another important milestone in its sustainability strategy.
"Our custom-fit software solution enables Marabu to react flexibly to market requirements in the long term. The intelligent processes and workflows map all of Marabu's requirements and make the best possible use of the potential in the warehouse," says Renata Unger, project manager at S&P.
