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More efficiency. Less effort.
Rethinking maintenance – with SAP EAM
Migros Distribution Center Suhr replaced manual maintenance planning with a fully automated SAP EAM solution developed by valantic.
The result: 100% paperless processes, reliable planning, and scalable maintenance – seamlessly integrated into the existing SAP landscape.
About Migros Distribution Center Suhr
Migros Distribution Center Suhr is one of the largest high-performance logistics hubs in Switzerland, ensuring on-time delivery to all Migros stores. Around the clock, highly complex conveyor and picking systems enable efficient goods distribution. As an integral part of Migros Verteilbetrieb AG (MVB), the Suhr site plays a key role in the national supply chain.
To ensure long-term efficiency and transparency in the maintenance of these systems, the distribution center opted for a SAP-based solution. Together with valantic, the SAP-based maintenance planning at Migros Distribution Center Suhr was fully automated. Today, the SAP PM (now known as SAP EAM) solution enables fully digital, paperless maintenance execution with a high level of planning reliability.
Initial Situation
At the Migros Distribution Center Suhr, one of Europe’s largest high-performance logistics systems ensures the on-time delivery of all Migros stores. The availability of its complex conveyor and picking systems is critical to the entire supply chain.
Until recently, maintenance intervals were planned using a custom-developed Excel solution. Work orders then had to be manually transferred into SAP PM. This dual data handling led to high administrative effort, media discontinuities, and inconsistent data records.
As the number of systems increased and maintenance processes became more complex, the manual approach reached its capacity limits. At the same time, demands for transparency, planning reliability, and efficiency continued to grow. A fully automated and SAP-integrated solution became essential.
Project Objective
The central objective of the project was to fully automate the existing manual maintenance planning process at Migros Distribution Center Suhr and integrate it seamlessly into SAP PM (SAP EAM) without media discontinuities. The aim was to increase efficiency, improve data quality, and significantly enhance the transparency of maintenance processes.
Specifically, the project pursued the following goals:
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Replacement of Excel-based maintenance planning
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Automated creation of maintenance orders in SAP PM
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Seamless integration of system-specific supplementary documents into SAP processes
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Elimination of manual process steps and media discontinuities
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Improved planning reliability and capacity management
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Future-proof solution based on SAP standard functionalities
Key Challenges
Previously, maintenance planning at the Migros Distribution Center Suhr was based on a manually maintained Excel solution, followed by manual data entry into SAP PM. As the number of systems increased and maintenance demands grew, this approach reached its limits.
Core challenges included:
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Media discontinuities and redundant data storage
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Lack of transparency and planning reliability
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High error risk due to manual work order entry
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Manual management and assignment of supplementary documents
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Expectation for a fully integrated and user-friendly SAP solution
System
The project focused on a streamlined, SAP-based solution that leverages existing standard functionalities to their full potential. The goal was to integrate and automate maintenance planning seamlessly—without media discontinuities.
Implemented components:
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SAP PM (Plant Maintenance): For automated maintenance planning and work order creation
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SAP DMS (Document Management System): For structured management and automatic linking of supplementary documents
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SAP Maintenance Task Lists (IH instructions): For standardized support of maintenance processes
By consistently using SAP standard components, a future-proof, scalable, and user-friendly solution was successfully implemented.
Digital Maintenance Revolution at Migros Suhr Key Figures at a Glance
3
Involved Departments: Maintenance, Engineering, Planning
0
Reduction to fully paperless (in %)
100
digital maintenance processes (in %)
1
System platform: SAP PM
SAP PM (Plant Maintenance), now known as SAP EAM (Enterprise Asset Management), is the SAP module for managing technical assets. It enables structured maintenance planning, transparent maintenance processes, and standardized feedback directly within the ERP system.
Efficiency, transparency, error reduction, planning reliability.
SAP DMS + maintenance task lists → structured management and bulk printing.
Productive use possible after just one day of training.
Yes, it can be flexibly expanded at any time thanks to SAP standard functionalities.
Outlook
With the new SAP-based maintenance planning solution, Migros Distribution Center Suhr has laid a future-proof foundation to further optimize its maintenance processes and flexibly adapt to new requirements.
Planned next steps include:
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Expanding the solution to additional equipment groups and process areas
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Integrating further SAP functionalities to make maintenance even more efficient and transparent
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Deepening the use of analysis and planning tools to manage resources more precisely
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Further developing digital maintenance processes as part of the site’s digitalization strategy
The SAP standard framework used provides maximum flexibility and scalability to support these goals.
Do you like the project?
Would you like to learn how your company can benefit from automated maintenance planning with SAP EAM?
Get in touch with us now for a personal consultation!
