Kimberly-Clark Asset Care Center of Excellence-
Unlocking the Value of Data
Two years ago Kimberly-Clark established a corporate Asset Care Center of Excellence with a goal of "standardizing" (see Tips For Successful Software Standardization) asset performance management processes throughout its North American manufacturing plants. A difficult, if not daunting task considering the company operates 28 facilities producing a myriad of products.
Not long ago, Kimberly-Clark rewarded plants for their "individuality." This hands-off approach between individual plants, and even departments within plants, led to the implementation of a hodge-podge of over 100 different manufacturing tools from simple spreadsheets to mainframe systems. Data inconsistencies made determining and implementing local or corporate process improvements through data analysis confusing and costly.
At the same time, manufacturing systems, processes, and data were growing ever more complex. Product design, manufacturing engineering, and production and maintenance management decisions often involved the consideration of many interdependent variables. The risk involved in making major decisions, potentially impacting the entire manufacturing organization, based on incomplete or confusing data was determined unacceptable.
Shortly after ushering in the new millennium, corporate management recognized the advantages of software "standardization" and adopted as a major initiative the installation of an ERP information system. SAP is now installed in all 28 plants.
Team members involved in the successful SAP deployment quickly recognized the need for the adoption of a standardized asset performance management software system allowing engineers and managers to identify process improvements from the vast data now captured within SAP. This group makes up the company's recently formed Asset Care Center of Excellence.
Turning Data Into Action
The first step was identifying the right asset performance management tool. Of particular interest were a system's ability to break down existing data to identify areas for improvement and recommend actions leading to overall process improvement. After undergoing a "usability test," Meridium's Asset Performance Management software is currently serving as the key Asset Performance management decision-support tool in the 28 Kimberly-Clark North America sites.
The system's Strategy Management suite of products including Reliability Centered Maintenance and Failure Modes & Effects Analysis, Root Cause Analysis and Reliability Analysis tools were identified as fulfilling project requirements. Meridium is currently serving as one of the decision-support tools in the 28 Kimberly-Clark NA sites.
Turning Action Into Dollars
Meridium implementation is driving improvements within the areas of:
Process Efficiency. Millions of records are analyzed in two minutes versus 30 days. Focus shifts from data analysis to acting on data for process improvements.
Decision-Making. Using a standardized set of tools provides one version of the truth. Reliable data directs precision resource allocation. Resources can be focused more deeply rather than more broadly.
Communication. New connectivity within and between individual sites provides quicker assessment and adoption of "standard practices" throughout the enterprise.
Embracing New Technology Pays Off
SAP deployment in 28 plants is no minor task. The successful deployment of an asset performance management system in 28 plants in two years is remarkable. It seems that Kimberly-Clark is on an IT “roll”. InformationWeek 500 recently named Kimberly-Clark the Number 4 company in America based on its innovative technology practices.
Clearly Kimberly-Clark’s corporate management is focused on the implementation of new and innovative technology “to be more efficient, more effective, get better data, and good information to decision makers quicker.” And clearly, the company is working towards this goal both at the highest corporate levels of management to the manufacturing floor.
A more detailed report on this subject was presented at the 2007 Meridium User Conference. To learn how other companies are utilizing Meridium to meet asset management goals click here for 2008 Meridium User Conference learning opportunities.
