SAF Holland Group

A tailored service for SAF Holland Group.

The Company:

The SAF-HOLLAND Group is one of the leading international manufacturers of chassis-related assemblies and components for trailers, trucks and buses. The product range includes axle and suspension systems, fifth wheels, coupling systems, kingpins and landing legs. These products are known worldwide under the brands SAF, HOLLAND, HALDEX, KLL, NEWAY, TRAILERMASTER, V. ORLANDI and YORK.

The Need:

SAF Holland Ltd, a global leader in manufacturing chassis-related assemblies for commercial vehicles, faced growing challenges in managing its warehouse operations. With a complex product range including axles, suspension systems, and coupling components, the company required a more efficient, accurate, and traceable system to manage its inventory and fulfilment processes.

Key operational challenges included:

  • Limited visibility and traceability of stock, particularly for serialised items like axles.
  • Manual and Excel-based tracking of kit components and stock movements.
  • Inefficient picking, packing, and despatch processes reliant on paper-based systems.
  • Inconsistent labelling and lack of real-time stock updates.
  • A need to integrate with the existing ERP system for seamless data flow.

SAF Holland recognised the need for a modern, scalable Warehouse Management System (WMS) that could streamline operations, reduce manual errors, and support future growth without requiring significant increases in labour or infrastructure.

The Solution:

MJM Data Capture proposed the implementation of Bridge WMS, a modular and configurable warehouse management solution designed to integrate directly with SAF Holland’s ERP system. The solution included:

  • Bridge WMS Middleware: Providing real-time visibility and control over warehouse operations, including goods receipt, put-away, replenishment, picking, packing, and despatch.
  • Handheld Devices (HHDs): Rugged Android-based scanners (Nautiz NX41) for mobile data capture, enabling barcode scanning for stock movements and serial number tracking.
  • System Integration: Seamless data exchange between Bridge WMS and ERP, ensuring accurate and timely updates of stock levels, order statuses, and traceability data.
  • User Interface: A role-based, customisable GUI for warehouse supervisors and administrators to monitor operations, generate reports, and manage workflows.
  • Label Printing and Stock Traceability: Support for GS1-standard barcode labels, enabling consistent labelling of products, bins, and pallets for improved traceability.

The implementation also included infrastructure recommendations, user training, and a structured User Acceptance Testing (UAT) phase to ensure a smooth transition.

The Benefits:

The deployment of Bridge WMS delivered significant operational improvements for SAF Holland:

  • Enhanced Efficiency: Automated picking instructions, real-time stock updates, and optimised workflows reduced order fulfilment times and minimised manual handling.
  • Improved Accuracy: Barcode scanning and serial number tracking ensured precise stock control and traceability, particularly for high-value items like axles.
  • Operational Visibility: Real-time dashboards and reporting tools provided management with actionable insights into warehouse performance and resource utilisation.
  • Cost Savings: By maximising the use of existing infrastructure and labour, SAF Holland avoided the need for additional resources while increasing throughput.
  • Customer Satisfaction: Faster, more accurate order processing and improved stock availability led to better service levels and stronger supplier relationships.
  • Scalability: The modular nature of Bridge WMS allows SAF Holland to adapt and expand the system as business needs evolve.

“Would definitely recommend MJMs WMS for anyone using Opera, it allows for better autonomy, traceability decision making as it takes how Opera is able to present data to the next level.

WMS has enabled us to improve both stock traceability and accuracies. I was able to highlight process gaps we weren’t aware of prior to WMS being installed resolving stock discrepancies.

Receipt Manager allows us to receive stock in real time and have had the ability for urgent orders to be dispatched much quicker as within 3 scans its in a location and ready to go.

End of year stock takes used to be a thing of dread as you had to walk up and down aisles looking for the stock as Opera, now I have a full breakdown of exact locations and quantities. Looking forward to it this year.

Anyone who has ever worked with me will know I’m a big advocate for “Work Smarter, not Harder” and WMS Bridge allows us to do just that.” – Andrew Rutherford – Warehouse/HS&E Manager