Rath AG
Branch: Refractory Applications
Products: Unmoulded products, concrete mouldings, dense bricks,
Lightweight refractory bricks, high-temperature wool, vacuum moulded parts
Turnover: EUR 82 million
Employees: 600
Optimization measures, including:
- Market and supplier research, supplier days (packaging, logistics), negotiations
- Workshops with existing suppliers to optimise refractory raw materials, among other things
- Development of alternative suppliers to reduce dependencies and global sourcing
Processed product groups among others:
- Natural gas
- Electricity
- Refractory raw materials
- Logistics
- Packaging material
Interview with Alexander Jüttner, Managing Director Rath GmbH and Head of Purchasing Rath Group.
Were you sceptical or more open-minded at the start of the project?
Alexander Jüttner: I was very sceptical at the start of the project. We had some traditional consultants in-house who caused unnecessary stress and cost more than they brought in. Kloepfel Consulting's concept was the exact opposite. We were introduced to people who didn't spend a lot of time analysing and presenting highfalutin PowerPoint slides, but who were hands-on and really helped us to save money.
What were the main challenges at the beginning of the project?
Alexander Jüttner: There were four challenges. Firstly, all purchasing data, contracts etc. first had to be made transparent so that the project had a solid basis. Secondly, purchasing had to be optimised at various locations in Germany, Austria and Hungary. The entire purchasing team had to be won over to the project. And we had a very high dependency on raw materials.
How does optimisation have a sustainable impact on your daily operations?
Alexander Jüttner: Very positive. In the area of raw materials, we have completely moved away from single sourcing, as we have been able to establish high-quality and yet significantly cheaper alternative suppliers. There was also a learning-by-project for all of us. For example, the Kloepfel team took our people with them into the negotiations, which made them stronger negotiators.
The Kloepfel project team works collaboratively.
Alexander Jüttner: Shirtless, pragmatic, team-orientated. In other words: not detached consultants, but workers. In addition, every step of the project was transparent for us through reporting and preliminary discussions, for example.
What is your conclusion after the end of the project?
Alexander Jüttner: Positive, we will extend the project.
Thank you very much for the interview!
