Growing employee output with efficient, auditable processes

Solution: One unified, easy-to-use platform

Magna Steyr had introduced more than ten different automated processes over a number of years, touching almost every part of its business. Like many other growing organizations, it adapted by adding solutions over time, using a mix of different commercial and bespoke software packages. These automated processes had been supporting the business well, but the time had come to move to a single workflow technology.

After a competitive review process, the company selected K2 Software to gradually replaced and enhanced Magna Steyr’s existing automated processes, as well as create new business workflows.

One of the first workflows implemented was the company’s change management process. Now, whenever an amendment is proposed to the design of an automotive component or stage in production, a change request workflow is automatically initiated. Between 10 and 100 people can be involved in this workflow, including specialist engineers at Magna Steyr’s suppliers. Only when all necessary parties have considered, checked, tested and authorized the proposed changes, will those changes be put into effect.

Another time-saving workflow streamlines the company’s order management process. When new office supplies, equipment and manufacturing components are required, the request is passed to the appropriate managers for authorization. It is then transferred directly to the company’s SAP financial system, where a purchase order number is seamlessly raised.

Magna Steyr has been particularly innovative in using K2 Software to create a flexible workflow generation engine called Free Flow. This solution allows employees to design and initiate their own automated processes on an ad hoc basis. It empowers employees to act on their ideas to increase productivity. Users have developed more than 50 workflows using Free Flow, which help them secure approvals for documents and small projects while working more efficiently. Magna Steyr appreciates the integration of K2 Software and Microsoft Active Directory, which makes workflows accessible to 3,000 employees.

Magna Steyr’s new workflows save time and improve employee productivity. The company estimates that it can now process purchase orders and issue them to suppliers up to 90% more quickly than before.

Now that Magna Steyr has a single workflow technology, the company’s IT department spends far less time managing and maintaining workflow systems. Instead, IT technicians can focus their energy on developing new workflows that will add value for the business.