Use Case - Digital PPAP Material at Mercedes-Benz
By using material.one, various aspects of the First Article Inspection (FAI) process are simplified and optimized for Mercedes-Benz suppliers.
Overview
The coordination takes place on the CAD model. The model is broken down to the material level and the information that the model contains becomes available at each level. In addition, ready-made, digitized inspection plans are provided which are based on industry recognized standards as well as the Daimler-Benz Supply Specification (DBL) and Mercedes-Benz Standards (MBN).
The requirements are digitized and enable an automated inspection plan proposal. This ensures completeness. The inspection plans are shared with sub-suppliers, thus distributing the overall planning effort across the supply chain.
On material.one suppliers can select a suitable testing laboratory that meets the requirements of the test plan and is available at the appropriate time. This facilitates coordination and enables efficient use of resources. Furthermore, sub-suppliers can be integrated into the FAI process easier by delegating certain partial tests via the platform.
Digital recording ensures the integrity of the data. It is no longer necessary to open and interpret many different documents.
These functions considerably simplify and accelerate the data collection process. Suppliers can access standardized inspection plans and benefit from the automated extraction of CAD models and information. This leads to improved efficiency, accuracy and reliability in material sampling inspection for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The test results are automatically compared against the requirements. This pre-evaluation makes it easier to evaluate the evidence. Data from the platform can then be transferred to the release systems (e.g. SAP, PLM).
Process simplification and acceleration as a goal
Firstly, these standardized and automated processes lead to significant simplification and acceleration in the workflow. Secondly, the collaboration between Mercedes and its supply chain is raised to a new level. This elevated level of collaboration corresponds to the general forward-looking trend of a new type of profound networked cooperation between companies in the manufacturing industry. All parties involved benefit from this in-depth collaboration.
Until now, suppliers have been forced to...
Manually check inspection requirements of the components.
Keep standards as PDF documents or in other formats.
Derive and create inspection plans manually.
Manually assign test orders to laboratories.
Manually consolidate and upload test reports from subcontractors and testing laboratories.
By using material.one for digital FAI, suppliers receive...
automated derivation of all test requirements in the CAD model.
Standards in an interpreted, digital form.
An automated draft of the test or inspection plan.
A tool for placing test orders and recording test or inspection results for their subcontractors.
Automated nominal to measured value comparisons.
material.one user interface release process
Costs and advantages
This approach provides Mercedes-Benz and its suppliers with significant benefits for their operations:
Efficient display of the 3D model with all inspection requirements.
Easy and fast extraction of the test requirements.
Reduction the employee workload by automatically creating a draft inspection plan and making the process less prone to errors.
Acceleration of the process of awarding test contracts and central documentation in one place.
Time savings from eliminating the effort required to consolidate all inspection reports.
Conclusion
The reduction in manual tasks results in a time saving of at least 25% for all parties involved - i.e. the implementation of the process is greatly simplified, faster and safer for everyone involved.
This use case is also suitable for use in industries that have similar complex supply chains to the automotive industry - e.g. transportation, aerospace or shipbuilding.
See also Mercedes-Benz Supplier Portal: https://supplier.mercedes-benz.com/docs/DOC-2042
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With material.one all stakeholders can collaborate a standardized manner in a compliance conforming way based on the "need to know". As an industry cloud platform, material.one provides information on material and material sampling, percentage of recycled material, certificates as well as CO₂ footprint information.