Alfa Laval
case study #2
MY ROLE
Project manager
DELIVERABLES
Sales and production optimization
Software tool
TOOLS
Adobe creative suite
C++
YEAR
2022
THE WHAT
At my former workplace Alfa Laval, they had challenges handling big quantity of orders, since the product they manufacture often is extremely complicated on technical aspects. I had the task to optimize the sales and processflow for the technical projectmanagers, who handled the order.
THE WHY
When a sales order came in, the technical project manager had to translate that configuration into reality. That meant they manually had to
- Locate the correct 2D and 3D files
- Compile a full, configuration-specific componentlist for the customer
- Write individual order drafts for each component
- Generate all the neccessary safety and operating documentation
Each unit can be assembled in multiple ways, with around 12 configuration options depending on customer needs. Each choice affects the components: pump type, filtration method, and other technical variations. Like building a menu at MacDonalds; large fries, small coke, any sides — every selection changes what needs to be included behind the scenes.
THE HOW
This project was a bit different from how I usually work. Normally I arrive at solutions through design methods and user-driven exploration. Here, the goal was already clear: reduce the friction between selecting a configuration and producing a complete production package.
Collecting and editing all the neccessary documentation for the order handler, the technical project manager, was a repetitive, time-consuming, error-prone and
typically taking 3–4 days per unit.
And because all the documentation was digital, I decided to make a software tool to shorten the process.
I started by collecting all the neccessary documention for all the different options, customers could choose between. From here I sorted all the documentations into the different options, and made a “super-user-level” for other users, besides myself, to edit the documentation, if it changed or had to be updated down the road.
The solution:
The PUM Autobuilder
User friendly UI, designed with selected users
Cut boring repetative work from 4 days to 10 minutes
Made with in-house software, so no needed purchase of further training of users
This enabled our department to give sales the green light to scare orders, knowing production capacity could support the increased demand
From here it is a simple case of an iterative process of testing with users, implementing their feedback and so on.
This was a fun project I was very proud of, since it had no additional costs, and pumped up production. Several departments were satisfied and as far I know, they still use my little PUM AutoBuilder to this day.