Fast-moving, complex and highly demanding manufacturing processes require companies to adapt flexibly and efficiently to constantly changing challenges and requirement profiles. Companies rely on solution providers and partners such as Simplifier to help them implement their digitalization strategy quickly, cost-effectively and easily – and GMN Paul Müller Industrie GmbH & Co KG is no exception. GMN is the world’s leading supplier of high-precision ball bearings, machine spindles, freewheels, seals and electric drives and has set itself the goal of using Simplifier’s low-code technology to drive internal application creation in all of the company’s specialist areas.
The family-owned company GMN Paul Müller Industrie GmbH & Co KG is now in its fourth generation of manufacturing high-precision ball bearings, machine spindles, freewheels, non-contact seals and electric drives. In the field of machine spindles, GMN produces individual solutions that are tailor-made according to customer requirements and are used in a wide range of applications in a variety of ways. GMN offers highly standardized product solutions in the high-precision ball bearings and freewheels and seals business units. Accuracy, precision and flexibility are deeply rooted in the corporate philosophy and all product areas. As a result, GMN also strives to adopt a modern and future-oriented approach to the technologies and solutions it uses, which allows it to meet the highest quality requirements.
Selection of a suitable low-code provider
GMN examined various platforms and, after several rounds of evaluation, finally decided in favor of Simplifier.
Dr Jens Falker, Head of Engineering in the Spindle Technology division, GMN Paul Müller Industrie GmbH & Co. KG:
“As a modern company, it is GMN’s aim to drive forward our digitalization strategy quickly and efficiently by using the latest methods and tools. We see the internal creation of applications with the help of low-code technology as an essential component of this. We are deliberately exploring new avenues in order to involve our specialist departments in this process. We therefore specifically searched for the right low-code platform for us and finally found it in Simplifier.”
Dr. Jens Falker:
“The platform and digitalization excellence of Simplifier convinced us as an overall package. We particularly liked the modular structure. The possibility of reusing individual modules for different applications and the associated simplified administration were important criteria for us.”
Rainer Wolff, Head of Purchasing, GMN:
“Apart from the geographical proximity between Nuremberg and Würzburg, Simplifier is an approachable and very responsive company. They respond quickly and purposefully to our needs and take our concerns seriously. We are partners at eye level.”
Start of the collaboration
The first point of contact was during a VDMA experience exchange with Michael Weinig AG, an existing Simplifier customer. Here, GMN was able to gain its first impressions of the qualities of Simplifier’s low-code platform. The collaboration finally began in January 2021 with a workshop to create a typical application at process and management level, which is located in the purchasing area.
The actual implementation of the app was carried out by just one GMN application developer. Simplifier’s customer success team provided him with the necessary know-how to implement the application as part of Simplifier’s standard enabling process. The application was up and running quickly – only twelve weeks passed between the first workshop and the go-live of the application.
Florian Rühl, CSO & CEO, Simplifier AG:
“GMN is driving forward the implementation of low-code technology in its corporate structures and has already implemented the first applications in a targeted manner. As a typical non-SAP customer with its own ERP system, GMN has found the ideal partner in us and can make full use of the flexible integration capability of our platform.”
Shared future
As part of the enabling process, Simplifier provided the necessary expertise to advance GMN’s digitalization goals with the help of low-code technology. So far, GMN has been able to implement three applications. In addition, work on further apps has already begun and there are plans to implement a handful more applications over the next two years – particularly more complex applications for the process and management level and the production area.
