Warehouse Management & Bid Response Success
Litens Automotive, Tier-One Supplier, Improves Operations and Wins More Bids
Industry:
Automotive, Manufacturing, Distribution
Customer Profile:
Litens Automotive Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of engineered powertrain systems and engine components.
Solution:
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management with Advanced Warehousing; MCA Connect AutoCONNECT™ Bid Response Management built on Dynamics 365 Sales; EDI
Results:
Dynamics 365 F&SCM and Sales enabled full traceability and automated warehouse operations; restored throughput; automated transfer orders; real-time multi-warehouse inventory visibility; more bids won with a proactive, sales-oriented process
At-a-Glance
Litens Automotive Wins
The Challenge
Manual Processes & Siloed Systems
Litens Automotive, a leading manufacturer and distributor of engineered powertrain systems and engine components, had a multi-warehouse distribution network that required precise coordination with automotive manufacturers. But existing manual processes were limiting visibility and slowing throughput.
Siloed systems, run by teams with undocumented tribal knowledge, made it difficult to effectively manage customer relationships, track opportunities, forecast accurately, and ultimately win bids.
And, as a tier-one automotive supplier, not only could any misstep in data or decision-making disrupt production schedules — severely impacting the customer experience —it could come with costly penalties.
To overcome these challenges and create a more resilient, high-performing supply chain, Litens Automotive needed to:
- Optimize both manufacturing and distribution to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and seamless coordination between production and logistics
- Upgrade an existing ERP to maximize functionality
- Integrate a sophisticated EDI solution with advanced warehousing to enable containerized shipments, eliminate traceability gaps, and facilitate multi-warehouse transfer order processes
- Implement a powerful CRM to manage opportunities, streamline bid workflows, and improve win rates
Bid responses
Proactive sales-driven process
The Solution
Connected Operations, EDI, and CRM
Strategic Insights and Execution Plan
After being referred by Microsoft, MCA Connect was selected to optimize end-to-end processes for Litens Automotive.
Through a combination of technical expertise and deep industry knowledge, the MCA Connect team:
- Worked to stabilize critical operations within weeks, with a full project timeline of 2–3 months
- Designed upgrades to their existing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management solution, including a Warehouse Management System (WMS)
- Outlined an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) integration, fully aligned with the WMS
- Delivered MCA Connect Strategic Services, with a blueprint for advanced intelligence at the forefront
Operational Upgrades to ERP and WMS
MCA Connect implemented Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management, which provided a connected operational backbone that the team could now build upon. Upgrades included:
- Warehousing Management System module: Mobile-guided scanning, flexible picking and put-away, full batch and serial tracking, and real-time integration with manufacturing, transportation, and quality control.
- Batch number configuration improvements: Adjusted production order workflows, so users could pick based on availability while still maintaining compliance and traceability requirements
- Improved forecasting with advanced planning and analytics, enhancing tracking, and increasing overall visibility
EDI Integration
The MCA Connect team integrated an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solution to standardize data exchange across partners and systems. The integration:
- Enabled containerized shipments with tracking through receipt, storage, and outbound shipping
- Helped manage internal transfers, ensuring efficient movement from different warehouses on different production timelines
- Provided real-time visibility into inventory amounts and locations of diverse parts
- Restored automatic transfer order functionality, enabling workers to scan a pallet and trigger all subsequent steps instantly
- Integrated seamlessly with the Warehouse Management System after custom code adjustments
CRM Improvements
MCA Connect executed on a CRM strategy blueprint. The solution included:
- MCA Connect AutoCONNECT™ Bid Response Management (built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales), to streamline production, improve quality control, and improve forecasting
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations, for improved visibility, collaboration, and agility
- Modern data analytics platform, connecting sales pipelines with operational and financial data to prioritize high-value opportunities, create more accurate bids, and make faster, data-driven decisions
Results
With MCA Connect’s help, Litens Automotive achieved:
What’s Next?
With a unified Dynamics 365 platform in place across Sales and Operations, Litens is well-equipped to win more bids and drive ongoing improvements in both manufacturing and distribution — backed by MCA Connect’s expertise in each.
About MCA Connect
MCA Connect modernizes supply chains end-to-end through transformative consulting, unified data for business insights, process optimization and automation, AI and advanced decision making, and business application implementation.
As Microsoft’s top manufacturing and distribution partner, we combine global reach, seasoned experts, leading-edge tech, and a focus on business strategy.
