Success Story: GANTTPLAN digitizes production planning at PIPELIFE

Leading pipe manufacturer expands planning software to six more locations by summer 2021

• Pilot Project and Rollout: Following a successful pilot at the Haparanda plant, PIPELIFE will implement the GANTTPLAN APS system at six additional sites in Finland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, and Poland.
• Objectives and Applications: GANTTPLAN will streamline and automate production planning in the extrusion and injection molding areas.
• Integration and Usage: The system integrates with SAP, and the GANTTPLAN Web Client allows production plans and reports to be viewed on various devices.
• Industry 4.0 Strategy: As a key part of PIPELIFE’s digitalization strategy, the APS system enhances transparency and improves information flow for efficient production planning.

Dresden, April 9, 2021 – PIPELIFE International GmbH, a leading manufacturer of plastic pipe systems, has decided to expand the use of the GANTTPLAN planning & scheduling tool from DUALIS GmbH IT Solution after a successful pilot project at its Haparanda plant. The APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling) system will initially be rolled out to six additional locations, focusing on the extrusion and injection molding production areas. The primary goals are to automate and optimize production processes in these sectors.

PIPELIFE is a global leader in plastic pipe systems and solutions for sustainable water supply, energy distribution, and data transfer. With over 2,700 employees across 27 countries, the group is dedicated to developing infrastructure and building solutions that ensure safer, healthier living for generations.

To meet the growing demands for flexibility and speed while maintaining high reliability, PIPELIFE chose a planning solution that enables efficient and transparent production planning in the extrusion and injection molding areas, with seamless SAP integration. GANTTPLAN, a well-established solution developed by DUALIS, a specialist in production process planning and optimization software, meets these needs.

Successful pilot project as a foundation for further rollout

The Advanced Planning & Scheduling System GANTTPLAN was introduced during a pilot project at the PIPELIFE Hafab A.B plant in Haparanda and went live at the beginning of Q4 2020, just three months into the project. The system was integrated with SAP using the DUALIS SAP connector. Additionally, the new GANTTPLAN Web Client serves as a viewer for adjacent departments like sales, allowing production plans and reports to be accessed on various devices via a browser application.

After the benefits of GANTTPLAN became evident at the Haparanda plant, PIPELIFE decided to extend the software to six more plants in Finland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, and two locations in Poland.

Photo credit: © Pipelife