LESER GmbH & Co. KG is a leading German company specializing in designing and manufacturing safety valves. Founded in 1818 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, LESER is recognized as the largest manufacturer of safety valves in Europe and one of the global leaders in the industry.
The manufacturer was heavily reliant on manual documentation, which caused delays in accessing and updating critical data and documents, resulting in data quality and compliance issues.
To address these challenges and optimize asset management, LESER sought to establish seamless data integration through a unified single source of truth. After thorough research and careful comparison of options, the valve manufacturer successfully chose to implement digital twin technology with SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration to help optimize collaboration with customers.
Error-free asset data and streamlined collaboration with smart asset management
Relying on a manual documentation process was not only time-consuming but also prone to errors and delays. This was causing significant challenges in accessing and updating critical data and documents, leading to poor data quality and inefficiencies across the ecosystem. Recognizing the need for a modern solution on the operator side, LESER identified the importance of supporting customers with a centralized asset management system. LESER decided to digitize its asset management system by implementing a centralized, cloud-based platform. This platform enables LESER to seamlessly share the digital twin with customers, enhancing transparency and data sharing while continuing to manage internal processes separately.
By implementing the digital twin technology integrated with SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration, LESER created a one-to-one virtual replica of each piece of physical equipment and product, consolidating all relevant data and documentation into a single, accessible platform.
“The digital twin acts as a precise digital mirror of the physical safety valve, enabling our customers to receive complete, error-free, and up-to-date data about the safety valves,” Pierre Draheim, manager of Product Data Management at LESER, explains.
LESER provides digital twins both for new (greenfield) and existing (brownfield) safety valves, centralizing all relevant data and documents. Each valve is labeled with the globally-standardized ID link, or QR code, IEC 61406 that allows LESER’s customers to directly access and sync product-specific information with their asset management systems, enabling seamless data transfer, documentation compliance, and cost reductions of up to 95% for initial recording.
“By embracing digital innovation, we have empowered our customers to boost their operational efficiency,” Draheim says. He emphasizes that this not only helps LESER achieve substantial time-savings but also enables the company to focus on core activities and drive greater business growth: “It’s a win-win. Not only us, but also our customers achieve significant improvements in overall productivity.”
Reduce operational costs with real-time digital twin integration
Automating valve data sharing within SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration has made it much easier for LESER operators and service providers to coordinate maintenance, eliminating the need for manual data reconciliation. This automation cuts down on administrative work, helps avoid unnecessary downtime, and optimizes spare parts inventory, all of which contributes to a substantial decrease in operational costs.
By standardizing and digitizing data with a globally-standardized ID link, multiple service providers get instant access to accurate, up-to-date information.
“With the introduction of the digital twin and SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration, we can now automate valve management, making the entire process faster and more reliable,” Draheim says.
Ensure safety and quality through global and regulatory compliance
Making sure safety valves meet international standards at every step requires a high level of automation in managing product data. This is especially important for LESER. “Compliance is not just about meeting regulations, but about the ‘rules of the game’ in the industry, which enable an automated exchange of information across different IT systems and stakeholders,” Draheim says.
With such a significant market presence, LESER holds its suppliers and materials to very high standards, ensuring every part complies not only with global regulations but also local rules. This level of care is particularly essential for operators working in industries with strict safety and regulatory conditions.
Beyond setting these standards, LESER keeps detailed records to maintain full transparency and traceability across the supply chain. This integrated approach helps the ambitious company reduce the need for additional level approvals and supports safe, reliable plant operations all over the world. In return, its customers experience improved reliability and confidence in the products and services they receive, creating a positive impact throughout the entire value chain.
Learn more about LESER’s transformation.
Oyku Ilgar is part of SAP Supply Chain Thought Leadership & Awareness.
