HAMA optimizes planning through flexible standards

Meeting the dynamics of planning with agility and responsiveness

By Dipl.-Kfm. Armin Klüttgen

At first glance, “flexible standards” sounds like a contradiction in terms. In reality, however, it is the intersection of the positive aspects of two strategies, just as with the contradictory-sounding “mass customization”, for example, which combines the advantages of mass production (e.g. scaling effects) with the customer individualization that is increasingly in demand today.

The planning challenge

Founded in Dresden in 1923 and based in Monheim, Bavaria, since 1945, Hama GmbH & Co KG is today one of the leading accessory specialists. The range comprises around 18,000 products from the fields of consumer electronics, computers, telecommunications, photo/video and electrical household appliances. In addition to the Hama brand, other own and partner brands are part of the product range. The international company employs 2,500 people at 20 locations worldwide, 1,500 of them at its headquarters in Monheim.

Every day, up to 10,000 parcels leave the Monheim logistics center with a total of 70,000 pallet spaces (see Figure 2). Digital radios, TV wall mounts, connection cables, voice-controlled Bluetooth speakers, cases for smartphones, chargers for cell phones and tablets, computer mice or photo tripods and school backpacks are just a small selection of examples from the diverse product portfolio (see Figure 1). The focus is on maximum product availability with minimum delivery times.

Due to licensing restrictions, you can find the full article on the Logistik Heute website until August 2019.

Armin Klüttgen

Armin Klüttgen studied business administration at the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, where he graduated with a degree in business administration. At this time, he also worked as a student assistant at the Research Institute for Rationalisation (FIR), also in Aachen. After several years as Head of Service Centre at a subsidiary of a large Swiss bank in Frankfurt, which was active in asset management, he took on the role of IT Coordinator at a mechanical engineering company within SIG-Combitec. He then began his career as a management consultant for supply chain management at Abels & Kemmner GmbH. He then continued this activity for five years at 4Production AG as a Solution Architect. Before returning to the role of SCM consultant at Abels & Kemmner GmbH as Principal from October 2017 until today, he worked for several years as Planning Manager and most recently as Supply Manager S&OP at the UK-based Low & Bonar Group.

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