Company Overview

A leading tile manufacturer in Sri Lanka needed to enhance its operations to stay competitive in a dynamic market. Specializing in high-quality ceramic and vitrified tiles, the company sought a comprehensive digital transformation that would integrate critical business functions and provide real-time insights for informed decision making.

Business Challenges

Before the transformation, the tile manufacturer faced several challenges common to the manufacturing industry:

• Fragmented Systems: Disparate legacy systems created data silos, making it difficult to obtain a unified view of operations.
• Inefficient Production Planning: Manual scheduling and inventory management processes led to production delays and suboptimal resource utilization.
• Complex Financial Processes: The lack of automation resulted in lengthy financial consolidations and increased risk of errors.
• Limited Supply Chain Visibility: Inadequate tracking of raw materials and finished goods hindered proactive supply chain management.
• Data Access and Reporting: The absence of centralized analytics limited the ability to generate actionable insights from business data.

Digital Transformation Solution

To address these challenges, Altria Consulting implemented a robust solution using SAP S/4HANA alongside SAP Analytics Cloud. This integrated approach delivered benefits across key business areas:

• Finance and Accounting:
  SAP S/4HANA provided real-time financial reporting and automated processes that improved budgeting and shortened closing cycles. This streamlined approach reduced errors and increased financial transparency.

• Supply Chain and Procurement:
  The solution integrated procurement and inventory management, offering end-to-end visibility that optimized raw material sourcing and inventory levels. Enhanced tracking minimized disruptions and improved supply chain responsiveness.

• Production Planning and Manufacturing:
  Advanced planning tools enabled the manufacturer to optimize scheduling and resource allocation. With improved quality management and streamlined production workflows, the company achieved higher operational efficiency.

• Sales and Distribution:
  Automation of order processing and logistics enhanced overall customer service. The system allowed dynamic pricing and efficient order management, ensuring timely deliveries and better market responsiveness.

• Advanced Analytics with SAP SAC:
  SAP Analytics Cloud delivered interactive dashboards and real-time insights across all functions. This allowed management to monitor performance, track key performance indicators, and make data-driven decisions to drive continuous improvement.

Implementation Approach by Altria Consulting

Altria Consulting led the digital transformation in clearly defined phases:

1. Assessment and Roadmap Development:
   A thorough evaluation of existing processes helped identify improvement areas. This formed the basis of a tailored SAP S/4HANA and SAP SAC roadmap.

2. Module Integration:
   Key modules for finance, supply chain, production, and sales were integrated into a single platform, eliminating data silos and ensuring real-time process tracking.

3. Go-Live and Continuous Improvement:
   Following deployment, continuous support and enhancements ensured that the system consistently delivered real-time insights and drove operational improvements.

Results and Benefits

The transformation delivered significant benefits for the tile manufacturer:

• Financial Efficiency: Faster financial closures and improved budgeting accuracy led to better financial management.
• Optimized Production: Enhanced scheduling and resource utilization increased production reliability and reduced downtime.
• Supply Chain Visibility: Real-time inventory tracking and streamlined procurement processes improved responsiveness and minimized excess inventory.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: Faster order processing and delivery times boosted customer satisfaction.
• Actionable Insights: Interactive dashboards provided by SAP SAC enabled agile, data-driven decision making across the organization.

Conclusion

Through the implementation of SAP S/4HANA and SAP Analytics Cloud by Altria Consulting, the tile manufacturer successfully transformed its operations. The integrated digital solution not only addressed key operational challenges but also positioned the company for sustainable growth in Sri Lanka’s competitive tile manufacturing industry. This case study demonstrates the value of combining advanced ERP capabilities with robust analytics to achieve business excellence.

Keywords: SAP S/4HANA, SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP SAC, digital transformation, tile manufacturing, Sri Lanka, Altria Consulting, supply chain optimization, production planning, financial management, manufacturing excellence.