Hydrema: "Today, Hydrema has two — and only two — systems. Our ERP and IPW."

Development
A few years ago, IPW functioned as our quality management system — production-oriented with instructions, checklists, and controls.

Today, it has been expanded to include environment, occupational health and safety, so IPW now serves as our HSEQ management system. In addition to certification according to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001, it also includes complaint handling, machine inspection, and component inspection.

Along the way, we changed ERP systems, and complaints that were previously handled manually now interface with our ERP.

We have also started working with LEAN in IPW, and our support department has begun using IPW for service. Here, we have established an extranet that gives our customers external access to view various information.

Result
A management system must always be able to expand. In that way, we have ended up with two — and only two — dynamic systems: ERP and IPW.

This is possible because the entire IPW system is built on the same core elements — whether it is production reports, instructions, or the interface with ERP. At its core, it is a form that can be used for many different purposes. So that is what we do.

The mindset is: “We should be able to adapt it to this and that,” and IPW listens and says, “Yes, it can.” And then they develop it further.

It is very relationship-driven. More employees have joined IPW, and at Hydrema, more and more people are becoming involved — but the foundation remains the same. Everyone is development-oriented, and we make extensive use of customer seminars, ERFA groups, and knowledge sharing.