ZOLLER | Z.magazine 2017

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Conclusion: Necessary Step Towards
a Digital Process Chain
The significance of the project has only has become
visible as it has progressed. The introduction of ZOLLER
tool management represents a step in the right direc­
tion towards a forward-thinking, digital process chain
for test part service at STIHL. “Now, tools are well and
clearly organized. This has significantly reduced time
spent searching for tools, leading to an enormous in­
crease in efficiency and significant reduction in error
rates,” Patrick Pfeffer says, describing the benefits of
the system.
For STIHL employees, the tool management system
represents a level of communication, a tool data infor­
mational pool. “ZOLLER TMS Tool Management Solutions
offer an interface that can be individually configured
so that everyone can work with it,” summarizes Patrick
Pfeffer. Today, all employees involved in the process
chain communicate through the central database. In
addition: “Combining all of our processing knowledge in
a single database also allows us to use it for knowledge
management in NC processing in our test part service.
Recently, managing tools with ZOLLER TMS has allowed
us to put our focus fully on our core duties, which are
programming and 5-axis machining,” says Christoph von
Hiller.
Outlook
During the next step, a compatible and flexible man­
ufacturing planning tool will be added to the process
chain at STIHL. The company can also imagine using
the TMS Tool Management Solutions statistic module
intensively to assess and distribute production orders
or tooling sheets to machines. In any case, the step to­
wards a digital process chain has paid off.
ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG
develops, produces, and distributes
motorized devices for forestry and
agriculture, for garden and landscaping,
and for the construction industry. Since
1971, STIHL has been the best-selling
chainsaw brand in the world. The company
was founded in 1926 by Andreas Stihl,
who developed the first one-man chain­
saw. The company is active in over 160
countries, and has its main headquarters
in Waiblingen near Stuttgart. As an inde­
pendent family company, STIHL focuses
on long-term orientation and concen­
trates on its core areas of competence
of developing, manufacturing, and sell­
ing chainsaws and motorized equipment.
Most products are distributed through
specialist retailers and service providers.
Motorized Devices
DE-71336 Waiblingen
From left to right: Philipp Mahr, (Team Leader of
Application Technology, Tool Management,
ZOLLER), Patrick Pfeffer (Project Manager,
Introduction of Tool Management, STIHL),
Christoph von Hiller (Group Leader in Prototype
Building, STIHL), Otto Lutsch (Baden-Württem­
berg Team Leader, ZOLLER).
ST I HL
Z.magazine 2017 47