Background
Bodycote Wärmebehandlung GmbH, a leading service provider for industrial heat treatment processes, recognized early on that Excel lists and decentralized structures would not be sufficient in the long term to meet the traditionally high quality requirements of the supplier industry. Almost 15 years ago, the company decided to work with MSO Solutions – a decision that still provides new impetus for digitalization today.
The challenge: transparency and efficiency in action management
Before the introduction of MSO, action management at Bodycote was highly fragmented. Audits, complaints and training courses were organized across different locations using Excel files and email. The consequences were:
- Unclear processes – There was no central point for tracking measures
- Increased administrative effort – data maintenance was manual and error-prone
- Lack of transparency – Especially in audits, it was difficult to quickly demonstrate the current status of individual measures
Especially in the highly regulated environment of the supplier industry , structured and traceable quality management is crucial. Bodycote was looking for a solution that works across all sites, automates processes and remains flexible enough to map individual requirements.
The solution: MSO as “growing solution”
Following a market analysis , Bodycote opted for the CAQ software MSO. Particularly convincing was:
- The option to create your own templates and map processes individually
- A web-based architecture that can be used from any location
- A very good price-performance ratio compared to large CAQ systems
- The close and personal support of MSO Solutions, which quickly implements new requirements
The introduction of MSO has enabled central processes to be digitized and optimized:
- Structured action tracking with clear responsibilities and automatic reminders
- Efficient complaint processing with direct documentation and fast verification
- Integrated audit planning to meet standards efficiently and across locations
- Transparency through dashboards that show the current status of all measures at a glance
Growing together: from initial implementation to customized solution
What began as a pure measure management tool has developed over the years into a comprehensive digital companion for Bodycote. Regular feedback from Bodycote and the close exchange with MSO’s project managers have led to a steady stream of new usage scenarios – from complaints processing to the management of training measures and energy management projects.
The close cooperation with MSO Solutions was a decisive factor here. Instead of using rigid standard software, Bodycote was able to help shape the solution. New requirements were quickly taken up and implemented – be it an intelligent escalation function, extended user management or new dashboards for greater clarity.
Today , MSO is the central tool in which Bodycote users feel” at home”. Processes are clearly structured, documentation can be called up at any time and standard specifications can be met without additional effort. Together, we succeeded in creating a system that fits perfectly into Bodycote ‘s operational processes.
Results: More efficiency, better compliance, less effort
The digitalization of action management has brought tangible benefits for Bodycote:
- Less administrative work – automated processes reduce manual activities
- Greater transparency & compliance – auditors can view all relevant measures with just a few clicks
- Improved cross-location collaboration – everyone involved works with the same up-to-date data
- Faster complaint processing – customer complaints can be processed systematically and comprehensibly
"The cooperation with MSO Solutions is excellent. We not only appreciate the flexible system, but also the direct exchange with the team. Some of the functions we use today were developed with our input - that 's real partnership."
– S.B. Quality Management Officer at Bodycote Wärmebehandlung GmbH
Conclusion & outlook: Digitization as a competitive advantage
In an industry where quality assurance and audits are a daily topic, Bodycote has gained a real competitive advantage through digitalization. The decision to opt for MSO has not only made internal processes more efficient, but has also improved the company’s external image vis-à-vis customers and certifiers. Bodycote will continue to keep a close eye on developments at MSO Solutions in the future. New features, further optimizations – the collaboration remains dynamic. Because one thing has become clear over the last 15 years: Digitalization is not a one-off project, but a continuous process. And in MSO, Bodycote has a partner with whom this path can be successfully taken.
