Buyse Metal Works Group makes product entry 10 times faster

How do you keep track of hundreds of semi-finished and finished products? This question occupied Buyse Metal Works Group for a long time – until Cegeka introduced them to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations and Power Platform. Now Buyse Metal Works Group can keep an eye on various logistics details, maintain an organized calendar, and enter new products 10 times faster – that’s agility made real! 

From enhanced planning to simplified administration and data-driven decision-making – at Cegeka, we’ve made agility real at numerous leading manufacturing companies.
 
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Reality check: a plethora of products and an outdated ERP 

With over 120 employees, branches in Aalter and Lier (Belgium), and customers all over the world, Buyse Metal Works group is a leading supplier in the metalworking sector. The group specializes in the production of CNC turning, milling, and grinding for manufacturers. “Our teams produce mechanical parts based on the customer’s technical information,” explains CEO Coen Buyse. “We also keep these articles in stock and deliver them just-in-time to the end client upon request. And we take great pride in our early supply involvement and professional advice on efficient production.” 

Buyse’s previous ERP package, Microsoft Dynamics AX, was no longer supported, so it was the perfect time to move to a more advanced system. “We looked for a production-focused platform with a well-organized scheduling system, that could also automatically process the multitude of products, big data, order lines and forecast lines.” 

“Cegeka’s experience in the manufacturing industry was crucial in implementing and managing the new program.” Coen Buyse, CEO, Buyse Metal Works Group 

The real deal: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations and Power Platform 

To ensure a smooth transition, Buyse switched to Dynamics AX’s successor: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations. Coen: “We opted for the out-of-the-box cloud version, with limited customization to give us an edge. This way, we can seamlessly update the entire system.” 

 In addition, Buyse also explored the capabilities of Microsoft Power Platform. “Some processes, such as product creation or price cost calculation, had limited coverage in Dynamics Finance & Operations or presented them with too complex challenges for enhancements within the ERP system. To simplify them, we developed several Power Apps. Since Power Platform runs on Dataverse, all data from the apps is gathered in a central database.” 

“With Power Platform, we can swiftly enhance specific processes outside our ERP package without the need for complex and costly customizations.”

Coen Buyse, CEO, Buyse Metal Works Group 

Agility made real: 10 times faster product entry

Today, Buyse benefits from a futureproof solution. “Not only does Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations satisfy our scheduling needs, it also covers logistics in a structured way. It keeps track of different semi-finished products in our inventory, and monitors their export and shipping status, so we know the location of each article at all times.” 

Cegeka developed an overarching framework for the wide range of products and the multitude of item numbers that need to be processed. To that end, we also built a custom app in Power Apps for product creation. “Data entry is now reduced to just 3 screens, from which Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations automatically constructs the correct parameters and routes. What used to take over 30 minutes to complete, can now be done in 3!” 

Real partnership: an expert team and a detailed roadmap 

 To unburden the group's IT division, an experienced IT partner was key. Coen: "Cegeka had the right know-how and a solid track record in manufacturing to implement the ERP system and support us in the long term. We selected our own personalized team of consultants with experience in finance, logistics, production, and most importantly the metalworking sector." 

“In the middle of the COVID pandemic, we were servicing many new clients, so the monthly steering committees came just at the right time. Even when our own employees couldn’t spare time to train new staff members, we could aways count on Cegeka’s support.”  

Coen Buyse, CEO, Buyse Metal Works Group 

Cegeka’s most valuable contribution? “Definitely the roadmap,” says Coen. “It allowed us to live up to the go-live from the beginning. Even before launching the program, we had already covered a whole process, from our initial needs to the plan of action and the necessary expansions. We checked its reliability, arranged adequate training for our employees and sufficiently tested the program. Cegeka gave us a detailed overview of the different tasks. If there was an obstacle, the consultants provided us with a plan B – or even a plan C. The weekly and monthly reports were invaluable.” 

We’ve come a long way 

 “Going live is one thing, optimizing our operations is another,” Coen concludes. “In the first year after the implementation, our employees got to know the ins and outs of the new system. Meanwhile, we keep up with Microsoft’s mandatory updates every 2 to 3 months as well as the 2 big functional updates every year. Luckily, Cegeka provides additional D365 update services to accompany the evaluation and implementation of our new functionalities. And we’re still organizing learnings to get everyone up to speed with them. That way, our team and software can grow together. 

When it comes to Microsoft Power Platform, we’re currently finalizing the cost price calculation app, another big step forward for our group. Meanwhile we are developing 2 new apps for quotation and quality control. Overall, I think Power Platform still has much untapped potential to help us achieve operational excellence in the years to come.”