Claas wins BME-Innovations Award 2007
The agricultural machinery maker Claas (Harsewinkel) was awarded by the Association Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics (AMMPL) with the “BME Innovations Award 2007”.
With the „BME Innovations Award“ the AMMPL recognizes sustainable concepts in procurement and logistics. The innovative strategy needs to have proven its value for the enterprise as well as for their partners.
In its winning concept “Growing Together – Creating Value” Claas positioned the procurement department as a globally integrated driver of innovations above the holistic approach. The value sourcing concept was initiated after the takeover of the French tractor manufacturer Renault Agriculture in 2003.
Claas has devised a strategy based on five principles: systematic supplier management, standardisation of processes, optimisation of the value chain, supplier integration and setting up a method of selecting regions with the most favourable overall cost of purchasing. In so called “profit-Teams” employees from procurement, research & development, quality management and production generate product-, market- and supplier know-how. Through the group-wide cooperation the teams generate purchasing synergies. The teams are controlled by the Corporate Supply Council (CSC). As the spokesman to the CSC, the head of purchasing reports to the executive board. Further members of the CSC are positioned in R&E, quality management, production, controlling and logistics. In close cooperation, all strategic decisions that affect the supply chain essentially are made by the CSC.
The whole Claas procurement system aims to develop long-time supplier relationships in order to gain top position in terms of technology and profitable growth. The enterprise performed a change from procurement as a commodity manager to a key function in technology management.
Further nominees of the „BME Innovations Award 2007“ were BP Gelsenkirchen GmbH, Hugo Boss AG, Wittenstein AG und ZF Friedrichshafen AG.
