PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has developed the Production Reprocessing Tool based on SAP technologies to help businesses in the manufacturing industry embed sustainability in their practices. The SAP tool utilises S/4HANA as an add-in to aid in the optimisation of remaining materials in the production process.
With a global network across 156 countries employing over 295,000 employees, professional services firm PwC aims to deliver high-quality assurance, consultancy, and tax services. As an SAP Platinum Partner and a consistent SAP Pinnacle Awards finalist, the multinational company continuously demonstrates its commitment to supporting customers in their enterprise-wide digital transformations using SAP solutions. Additionally, it is also among the several consultancy firms that support RISE with SAP — a signature cloud offering which provides Business Transformation as a Service (BTaaS) by leveraging a collection of related SAP technologies.
In Australia, PwC is one of Sydney Water’s selected partners in implementing SAP solutions including SAP S/4HANA, SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP Fieldglass, SAP Ariba, and SAP Concur to boost efficiency and visibility by improving finance and supply chain processes. This transformation project won the Intelligent ERP Enterprise category in the 2021 SAP Best Run Awards, an event that recognises the achievements of Australia and New Zealand’s leading organisations using the tech giant’s products and services to foster innovation, convert insights into action, and transform their businesses.
Developing the Production Reprocessing Tool for SAP S/4HANA
Last year, PwC submitted 18 stories for consideration in the SAP Innovation Awards highlighting projects that aim to provide remarkable outcomes for customers using a broad range of solutions, methodologies, and accelerators, all centered on SAP technology. The company’s development of the Production Reprocessing Tool received an honourable mention in the comprehensive program that includes specialised digital marketing, regional events, and content opportunities.
In Germany, PwC’s tech consultancy and data analytics services are mainly geared towards using design and implementation of IT-enabled systems to support customers’ business strategy and operations. With sustainability in mind, the company developed an innovative solution aimed at optimising the reuse of remaining materials from production facilities.
“A lot of manufacturers could potentially reuse remaining parts in their production sites but this requires substantial effort to manage them in the SAP ERP, add-on for embedded production planning and detailed scheduling (PP/DS) process. Reducing waste in the production process not only helps to reduce raw material costs but also has a positive ecological impact,” according to PwC’s Entry Pitch Deck for the SAP Innovation Awards 2021.
As an add-in, the PwC solution integrates into standard SAP processes and function modules including SAP Production Planning (SAP PP) which is a component of the SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) that assists businesses in manufacturing, sales, and distribution planning.
Aside from SAP PP, Production Reprocessing Tool also makes use of the following SAP technologies:
- SAP S/4HANA as an add-in to optimise the use of residues during the production process.
- HANA database for real-time monitoring of residual key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Visualisation with SAP Fiori app using Core Data Services (CDS) views.
Moreover, in line with its internal goal of “protecting the essential,” Trelleborg Sealing Solutions — a global developer, manufacturer, and supplier of polymer-based advanced sealing solutions — collaborated with PwC in the creation of the Production Reprocessing Tool by piloting it in a local production during an SAP implementation in Denmark. The solution enabled the recalculation, reuse, and recycling of materials in the production process, resulting in lesser excess of residual components.
