Agilon transforms Agronic's operations with no going back!

Agilon warehouse automation helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) streamline their operations and optimize supply chain management. By automating order processing and inventory control, businesses can minimize manual tasks, improve efficiency, and boost productivity. With Agilon, SMEs can achieve smoother workflows and enhanced service capabilities, driving operational success and growth.

Agronic Oy is among the first users of the Konecranes warehouse automation system. Agronic aimed to simplify its material management, accelerate inventory turnover, and ensure dependable deliveries of goods needed for production and maintenance.

Agronic manufactures balers, crushers, feeder wagons, slurry tankers, and other agricultural machinery at its two locations in Haapavesi, Finland. Approximately half of the company’s products are exported to other countries. Agronic is the market leader in Finland's slurry tankers.

Streamlined material management and dependable delivery of goods

Agronic aimed to streamline material management, increase inventory turnover, and ensure dependable deliveries. "Before implementing Agilon, we relied on Excel spreadsheets to manage our small components for production, as we did not have a dedicated inventory management system. We sought a better solution," explains Mauri Autio, CEO of Agronic.

Another reason for selecting Agilon was related to space utilization. Both of production facilities had numerous separate shelves for small utensils, resulting in disorganized storage throughout the premises.

The third reason was inefficient time management. Conducting continuous stock inventories several times a week and placing orders for small items from suppliers consumed significant time. Human errors often occur in stock balance calculations, sometimes causing items to go out of stock if not reordered on time. "We found that Agilon was the best solution for us," says Autio.

Agronic has implemented two Konecranes Agilon systems at its production facilities. Over 40 production and warehouse employees and several office and managerial staff actively use the Agilon systems. These systems store small components essential for production and maintenance, including protective equipment, chemicals, consumables, spare parts, and supplies for welding, fastening, and hydraulics.

Agilon is integrated with the Ahlsell ordering system, which provides Agronic with technical supplies, protective equipment, and industrial components necessary for assembly, among other items. Agilon automatically notifies the supplier's system to reorder the item when a product's stock falls below a specified limit.

By automating the ordering process, Agronic has eliminated the need for manual order processing. With Agilon, the supply chain operates efficiently at both ends: the supplier only needs to package and deliver the goods, while Agilon automatically generates the dispatch list. This streamlined process optimizes item management and enhances overall service capability.

Agilon simplified goods and inventory management

The Agilon system at Teollisuustie measures 12 meters long and 6.1 meters high. It has been expanded to accommodate over 1,000 boxes. The system has two access points: one in the upstairs spare parts storage facility and the other in the downstairs assembly area.

Warehouse employee Kimmo Erkkilä uses the system daily. He logs incoming goods into the system, checks the accuracy of automated order balances, and monitors daily orders and inventory levels. "Agilon simplifies the management of spare parts and components that we use daily. It ensures that even the less frequently needed items are readily available, eliminating the need for employees to ask their colleagues about the location of parts," Erkkilä says. He notes that the user interface is intuitive enough for anyone familiar with smartphone use, allowing them to operate it efficiently.

The Agilon system at Kalliotie, Agronic's other location, is 10 meters long and 5.6 meters high and features a single access point. It has proven effective in daily production. "There’s no going back," says Production Foreman Esko Honkala. 

"We wouldn’t have these systems if they didn’t benefit our business operations. We have streamlined the order and supply chain for small components and eliminated manual processes," says Autio.

Agronic achieves operational efficiency with Agilon

Agronic has achieved all goals and has gained good experience using the Agilon system.

"These systems benefit our business operations. We have simplified small components' order and supply chain and eliminated manual work phases. We can now monitor orders, inventory balances, and values from reports and optimize stocks and inventory turnover, says Autio. "Orders are automatically placed before items run out of stock and cause interruptions in production. Agilon eliminates stock inventories, freeing up time and the cleared storage space supports production."

Employees know where to find the components: always at the same access point. They no longer need to remember where parts are on the shelves. Autio adds that they are also pleased with the availability of goods.

Overall, Autio says Agilon has simplified and rationalized material management, order tracking, and reliability, bringing clarity to storage.