From “Drawing Management” to “Drawing Utilization”: Leveraging Buried Data for Optimal Procurement
Ebara Corporation
- Established
- 1920
- Number of Employees
- 19,095
- Sales
- $4.91 billion
- Business Activities
- Development, design, manufacturing, and sales of pumps, compressors, turbines, fans, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and more. Engaged in plant engineering like waste incineration plants. Key products in precision/electronics business include dry vacuum pumps and CMP devices
Before
With increasing orders, a vertically structured organization and inefficient analog processes led to procurement delays and missed deadlines.
After
Time-consuming drawing searches were reduced to mere seconds, allowing more time for cost planning, supplier development, and other productive tasks.
Before
With increasing orders, a vertically structured organization and inefficient analog processes led to procurement delays and missed deadlines.
After
Time-consuming drawing searches were reduced to mere seconds, allowing more time for cost planning, supplier development, and other productive tasks.
Elevating Inquiries: Driving Supply Chain Business Reforms in Response
Ebara Corporation, established in 1912, has been a renowned pump manufacturer for over a century, supporting various industries from behind the scenes. Their products range from pumps used in water infrastructure and energy sectors like oil and gas, to vacuum pumps used in semiconductor manufacturing processes.
Their collaboration with CADDi began during an upsurge in production in the precision and electronics business. With increasing demand for their CMP devices and others, their existing sheet metal suppliers couldn’t keep up. In early 2022, they initiated the use of “CADDi Manufacturing” for their supplier discovery process. This measure bolstered the stability of the processed sheet metal supply, guaranteeing punctual production. This experience made them see the potential in “CADDi Drawer” for efficient in-house processes.
Ebara has departments for development, design, procurement, and production. While each has its focused role, some staff felt the workflow was disjointed. Nakamura strongly advocated for a proactive approach in the development phase to embed cost-effectiveness and received executive support. They recognized CADDi Drawer’s potential for cross-departmental knowledge sharing through drawing data.
Although Ebara managed drawing data, they weren’t utilizing it effectively. The uncertainty in procurement increased operational pressures. Nakamura pinpointed this and led the implementation of CADDi Drawer.
Time-Consuming Drawing Searches and Supplier Selection Pressures
One challenge in the procurement department was selecting the right suppliers, considering their technological and cost capacities. While seasoned employees could recall previous suppliers, newer ones struggled. Even if past records were found, the time-consuming search compromised the decision quality. With CADDi Drawer’s unique algorithm, similar drawings, supplier details, and cost data became instantly accessible, allowing swift validation.
The efficiency and user-friendliness of CADDi Drawer outshone traditional drawing management systems. What previously took hours in drawing searches now took mere seconds. Nakajo appreciated this transformation, emphasizing that time can now be spent on core procurement activities.
By utilizing drawing data further, Ebara sees a myriad of additional applications. Nakamura acknowledged the vast potential of CADDi Drawer beyond just procurement. They aspire to incorporate the system in early planning phases for better cost and quality. They hope to leverage the drawing data for cost comparisons and facilitate design processes that are mindful of procurement needs and costs.
