The Brose Group Case Study

1. What is the Brose Groups business and what are the critical success factors (CSF’s) in a business like Brose’s? [lists] Brose Groups business | Critical Success Factors | * Supplier of windows, doors, seat adjusters, and related products for more than 40 auto brands. * It’s facilities are in more than 48 locations in 25 different countries * It has a world-wide workforce of 14,000 employees. | * Brose Groups has a strong communication between suppliers, plants, and customers. * Standardized business processes to make for more efficient enterprise capabilities * Well-organized supply chain |

2. What operational, management and control, and corporate learning/innovation challenges were faced by Brose during its rapid expansion over the last two decades? [table] Operational | * Too many different information systems * Hampered communication among suppliers, plants and customers | Management | The company has a huge expansion in the number of employees | Control | Inherited a wide range of functional software application |

3. What would be the benefits and the risks of retaining the functional application software found in each Brose location prior to the move to SAP? [table] Benefits | Risks | * the company will have no need to do any changes of current information into new application software * there is no extra cost to implement new software * Staff is not required to learn new software applications * Employees will be happy with the current functional application software which they are very familiar with. | * The current operational software may out of date and doesn’t work well * it may cost the company more to use the old software system * Inadequate investment in training for their staff * managers and employees may be hesitant with the implementation of new software |

4. What were the benefits and risks of the move to SAP ERP software? [table] Benefits | Risks | * Software