Global Cognac producer uses Opcenter APS (formerly Preactor) to streamline barrel-to-shelf scheduling process

About Martell

Established in 1715, Martell is the oldest of the great cognac houses, renowned worldwide for producing, exporting, and marketing cognacs of exceptional quality and finesse. This excellence is achieved through the double distillation of exclusively clear wines and aging in fine-grained oak casks.

The Challenge

Martell’s cognac production involves meticulous planning across various stages:

  • Grape Harvesting: Conducted in September.
  • Distillation: Occurs from November to the end of March.
  • Barrel Filling: Takes place from December to the end of May.
  • Barrel Maintenance and Repairs: Performed from June to September.

Managing these activities required organizing the work of all teams year-round and coordinating the transportation of eau de vie (EDV) between multiple sites. Previously, the EDV department relied on Microsoft Excel for scheduling, which proved inefficient for such complex operations. Martell needed a tool to plan and schedule team activities efficiently, minimize travel between wine storehouses, optimize the filling and routing of truck tanks, and ensure timely delivery of EDV to assembly sites.

The Solution

In 2012, under the leadership of Planning Manager Lydie Bardeau, Martell sought a dedicated planning and scheduling tool. After evaluating options, they selected Opcenter APS software, part of Siemens’ manufacturing operations management portfolio. The implementation involved a four-step process:

  • Data Integration: Information on EDV stocks, including drumming, barrel identification, and wine storehouse references, managed by Martell’s IT system, is automatically imported into Opcenter APS, reducing errors and data loss.
  • Master Planning: Weekly schedules are generated for all teams across three sites, detailing activities such as stripping, scalding, labeling, inventory, stocking, cleaning, drumming, transfer, and maintenance.
  • Transportation Planning: The software optimizes tank filling (up to six compartments), routes between aging sites and assembly sites, and driver availability, considering transport volumes and delivery deadlines.
  • Resource Management: Schedules are built based on configured data, including resources organized into working teams, tanks, trailers, sites, and supersites, with quantified data on drumming paces and storage volumes.

This step-by-step approach facilitated user adoption and minimized resistance to change.

The Results

Implementing Opcenter APS yielded significant benefits:

Error Reduction: Minimized the possibility of oversight or mistakes in dates, enhancing overall scheduling accuracy.

Productivity Increase: Achieved a 12 percent increase in team productivity due to improved visibility and better sequencing of activities, reducing travel between wine storehouses.

Time Savings: Realized a 20 percent time savings in activity planning and a 30 percent time savings in optimizing the tank-filling process.

On-Time Deliveries: Reduced late deliveries of EDV to assembly sites from 5 percent to zero, barring technical issues.

Customer Testimonial

“With Opcenter APS, we managed to set up a simple and effective method of work

that was widely adopted by our users.

We gained coherence and reduced the time spent on the planning of activities and transport. The working teams are better organized and more productive.

And we fully respect the delivery deadlines, one of our key objectives.”

— Lydie Bardeau, Planning Manager EDV, Martell

Why Choose Opcenter APS?

Opcenter APS offers a robust and flexible scheduling solution that integrates seamlessly with existing IT systems. Its ability to handle complex scheduling requirements, optimize resource utilization, and generate automatic reports makes it an ideal choice for manufacturers seeking to enhance operational efficiency and productivity.

Future Plans

Future Plans

Encouraged by the success in the EDV department, Martell plans to explore new automation possibilities and extend the use of Opcenter APS to other departments, including assembly, bottling, and packaging, to further streamline operations and maintain high standards of quality and efficiency.

Ready to Transform Your Business?

Discover how Kudos Solutions and Opcenter APS can help you achieve operational excellence with advanced planning and scheduling solutions. Contact us today to learn more about implementing a tailored scheduling solution for your business.