With ABeam Consulting, Alps Alpine achieves integration of domestic and international infrastructure systems as part of global supply chain management

　Alps Alpine Co., Ltd. (Ota-ku, Tokyo; Hideo Izumi, President and CEO),* announces that ABeam Consulting Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Takahiro Yamada, President and CEO)** is supporting Alps Alpine in a project that has integrated its IT infrastructure for global supply chain management and standardized manufacturing business processes, achieving global core system integration at a total of 81 sites in Japan and overseas. The mission of this project was to develop a digital management infrastructure to support Alps Alpine's global operations for long-term growth. Constructing a unique global template in keeping with the distinctive characteristics of Alps Alpine's business operations, ABeam Consulting provided comprehensive support from system conceptualization to implementation and subsequent Go Live.

■　Project background
　Alps Alpine has been reforming its cost structure and developing a digital management infrastructure in an effort to strengthen competitiveness and improve profitability in the global market that has been ongoing since 2009, before the business integration between the former Alps Electric and the former Alpine.
　Following the 2019 business integration, they had been promoting management and cost structure reforms to generate synergy as Alps Alpine, but given the differences between infrastructure systems and processes in the organizations and locations prior to the integration, they faced the challenge of harmonizing data across domestic and overseas locations, and conducting sophisticated analyses using that data.
　In order to resolve these issues, Alps Alpine had to integrate infrastructure systems at domestic and overseas locations (one system / one database) and centralize data management through infrastructure system integration, while promoting standardization and moving business processes forward. They embarked on a transformation of digital management infrastructure with ABeam Consulting, a partner with extensive knowledge and experience in supply chain management and implementation from a global perspective.

■　Project overview
　Aimed at standardizing and upgrading global supply chain management, this project integrated Alps Alpine's infrastructure systems such as ERP/PDM/MES, which serve as the foundation of management, involving a total of 81 domestic and overseas bases.
　In the first step, the eARTHS project initiated in 2009, we built a template for global standardization and simplification of operations at the former Alps Electric before the business integration, and implemented the infrastructure system from conceptualization to implementation and full-scale post-implementation Go-Live. Specifically, we changed from weekly planning to daily planning, unified BOM standards and centralized master management, unified KPI and codes, and incorporated IT into management of manufacturing execution systems (MES) at production sites.

　In the second step, the WAAP Project initiated in 2020 to maximize the synergistic effects of the business integration, the common operations of the former Alps Electric and the former Alpine were reorganized and integrated. Business processes and infrastructure systems were consolidated and unified to standardize and streamline operations and bring about multifaceted cost reduction.
　The result has been the completion of system integration across a cumulative total of 81 domestic and overseas locations for 5,000 users in the first and second steps, through which we established a data integration infrastructure that is indispensable in accomplishing data-driven management.

■　The role of ABeam Consulting
　ABeam Consulting provided comprehensive support through this project, including project roadmap development, examination of the business processes involved in supply chain management, upgrade and migration of existing business processes, and system construction and operational support using a unique global template adapted to the distinctive characteristics of the business. In this way, we helped Alps Alpine achieve global integration of its infrastructure systems, stable full-scale operation, as well as standardization and advancement of business operations. Also, by establishing a "Global One Instance" environment for central management of data in one system and one database, the project has enabled Alps Alpine to transform its global digital management infrastructure and promote DX human resource development.

■　Future plans
　Alps Alpine and ABeam Consulting will continue to promote measures on a global level utilizing data from this core system integration, and to further improve productivity and competitiveness through the use of AI and other latest digital technologies. Alps Alpine's vision for FY2027 is to evolve into an innovative "T-type" company that combines both hardware and software technologies.

About Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
Alps Alpine is a manufacturer of electronic components and in-vehicle information equipment. Since its original founding in 1948, it has produced numerous industry firsts and No. 1 products. Today, the company has 186 offices in 23 countries and regions around the world, providing approximately 2,000 customer accounts worldwide with thousands of products and solutions. These range from device products such as switches, sensors, data communication modules, touch input panels, actuators and power inductors to unit products such as electronic shifters and remote keyless entry systems for automobiles, and also include consumer products such as car navigation systems and car audio & visual equipment, digital keys using smartphone apps and blockchain technology, as well as remote monitoring and other systems/services.
Website : https://www.alpsalpine.com

About ABeam Consulting Ltd.
ABeam Consulting is an integrated management consulting firm that provides global services tailored to each country and region through its worldwide network centered in Asia. The wide range of consulting services it provides include strategy, BPR, IT, organization/personnel, outsourcing and other domains of specialized expertise. Roughly 8,300 richly experienced professional ABeam consultants advise companies and other organizations in areas that include finance, manufacturing, distribution, energy, information communications, and organizations in the public sector. ABeam Consulting creates the future together with corporations and other organizations. As a creative partner leading the way reliably through change, we contribute to industrial and societal change.
Website : https://www.abeam.com/jp/en/