WALO Case Study: Resource Planning for Staff and Stock

Background: Complex Excel files made joint planning difficult

Before the introduction of Visual Planning®, WALO managed staff and stock in highly complex Excel files. The volume of data from separate profit centres grew significantly each year. The original source does not specify any verifiable counting or measurement method for this; the term ‘millions’ is therefore not used as a precise measurement value.

The Excel-based planning was managed by just one or two people. As the company grew, this increased the risk that the absence of key planning personnel or disparate siloed solutions across the sites would disrupt planning.

Objective: Joint planning across Switzerland

WALO wanted to replace the Excel files and consolidate the previously separate planning processes of the profit centres. The aim was to create a comprehensive, Switzerland-wide planning system and to support the ‘one company’ philosophy across the organisation in resource planning.

A solution was required that remained flexible despite the complex requirements. Of particular importance were various filters and views for long-term, medium-term, short-term and customer-specific planning.

Choice: Flexibility was the deciding factor

WALO was introduced to Visual Planning® via the Baubit-PRO provider ABBF. Following the presentation by Advanced Solutions, a project team comprising four selected profit centres and the project management team compared the requirements profile with the software’s scope of functionality.

The proposal developed on this basis was presented to management. According to the case study, the decisive factor in the decision was, above all, the high flexibility of the solution.

Implementation: Ten-month pilot project

WALO assessed the requirements as part of a ten-month pilot project. Around 15 people were involved in this process. These included representatives from the profit centres across the various departments as well as the project management team.

Following the completion of the pilot project, Visual Planning® was gradually rolled out across the WALO Group. The consultancy, project management and support provided by Advanced Solutions were rated positively in the case study.

Application: Joint scheduling of staff and stock

Visual Planning® was used at WALO by scheduling managers at several sites. The departments involved included the maintenance depot and inventory, track construction and road construction.

The planning process covered seven profit centres with around 1,000 employees and a stock of materials numbering in the five figures. Using the filters, users were able to selectively show or hide the information they required without losing the underlying individual data.

Benefits: Greater transparency and less dependency

Resource planning was no longer dependent on individual central planners. Several staff members were able to complement one another’s work, stand in for one another and ensure everyone was on the same page.

The analyses also ensured greater transparency. In track construction, working hours could be examined more closely and optimised in line with statutory requirements.

When planning stock levels, WALO was aware of the availability of machinery and lorries within the group of companies. According to the case study, this meant that fewer external hire arrangements were required.