Industry: Meat
E.W. Grobbel Sons, Inc. (EWG) is the oldest corned beef specialist in America. But also when it comes to digitization, the company has been active for years. EWG implemented the ERP software by CSB-System shortly before the turn of the millennium. At that time, they saw revenue of 8 million US dollar. Now in 2019, they are projecting a revenue of 110 million.
Established in 1883, the big breakthrough came once the CSB-System was implemented in 1999. Initially, they focused on sales, inventory, purchasing and order processing via EDI. Even these first steps towards digitization opened up new ways for cooperation. Using the ERP system allowed EWG to become compliant with all prevalent standards for traceability and food safety according to HACCP – and thus to pursue big box companies such as Walmart, Publix Supermarkets, Gordon Food Service, Sysco and US Foods. “Right from the start, CSB’s solutions have boosted our efficiency, but have also supported our growth,” says company owner Jason Grobbel.
Digitization means more efficiency in production
The production of meat requires precise data management and exact documentation of the process steps. This calls for close-knit data capture at many points in the operation. Given its numerous disadvantages, the use of paper has reached its limits. With the introduction of scanners and barcodes, EWG established the basis for electronic data management at the shop floor, thereby automating inventory transactions and improving inventory control. Today, all data is captured and validated at the point of origin. For example, goods are labeled and scanned at touch-screen terminals.
Via the wireless network, mobile devices give employees easy access to all required picking data. The items to be processed are shown on the scan gun displays. Raw materials are scanned into the process through the mobile ERP solution by CSB. All other steps are done on the scan gun, which transforms the original SSCC from one item to another, as the product moves from one stage to the next until it finally arrives at the robotic palletizer.
Advanced reporting tools with real-time data
The system also optimized the analysis options at EWG. Instead of having to work with inaccurate information, the employees can now make their decisions based on real time data supplied by the BI solution. Using the advanced reporting tools such as dashboards, they receive information for monitoring inventory, sales and specific finance reports like outstanding receivables and payables.
They can also access their reports using their Android or Apple smartphones, tablets or from internet browsers, on any place on earth. This way, they get an overview of all vital information in real time. The designed cost center structure captures data at each step in the material flow. This structure enables cost tracking to various departments within the company to a high level of detail. Moreover, EWG can constantly monitor the quality of all the raw materials and ingredients along the whole process chain.
From small enterprise to market leader
EWG turned from a regional brand to a national powerhouse, cornering the corned beef market in the US. Jason Grobbel and his team also want to be among the champions of digitization. On the road to reaching their goals, Laura Parvin, VP of Regulatory Affairs, sees CSB’s consultants as important players: “They have tremendous expertise with regard to food safety, logistics, quality and production. We don’t have to describe our industry, they come in advising us.” They are currently running with similar administrative staff, focusing on further automation, palletizing robotics, plant maintenance, business intelligence, freight cost optimization, recipe management, and produc tion planning. This year EWG will be opening a 10,000 square meter distribution facility. The advanced technology will take them to the next level, improving inventory management, picking and shipping.
