Quality assurance and process optimization

A new software system was introduced at the Berger butcher's shop in Lower Austria with “winweb-food”

For the fourth generation already, the Berger family has been running a butcher's shop in Lower Austria. The Bergers, based in Wilhelmsburg, are a family business through and through, which is demonstrated not least by the fact that two generations are currently working together in leading roles and with great passion. What the great-grandparents founded at the end of the twenties and what the grandparents Franz and Gertrude Berger continued (founded as a livestock and slaughter cattle trade in 1960), has today become a modern slaughter, cutting and processing operation to EU standards as well as a country butcher's shop with flagship character.

As important as tradition is, especially when dealing with animals and producing meat, you have to move with the times.

The Bergers stand for quality and tradition, you can see and taste that in the country butcher's shop on the main square in Wilhelmsburg, where a wide variety of hearty delicacies are still produced in the old artisanal tradition. Also the finest beef and veal from their own Slaughter can be found here. Until 1996, slaughtering and sales still took place in Wilhelmsburg. In order to meet the growing demands, the Berger family built a modern slaughtering, cutting and processing operation to EU standards in neighboring Rotheau in 1996. "As important as tradition is, especially in dealing with animals and in the production of meat, you have to move with the times" explains Franz Berger Sr.

The decision in favor of an ERP system is very sensitive, as all current and future business requirements must be mapped and linked together.

A short time ago, a new software system called “winweb-food” was introduced at Berger. The decision as to which provider is the right long-term partner was not easy, recalls Franz Berger Jr., who, as a trained master butcher, has been working in his parents' business for several years: “The decision in favor of an ERP system is very sensitive, since all current and future business requirements must be mapped and linked with each other.”

Especially in the meat industry there are very sensitive requirements such as Traceability, Classification, Quality assurance, labeling, etc., which must be covered error-free in the shortest possible time due to product sensitivity. Winweb offers a complete system specifically for the meat industry, which is continuously being further developed, combined with an extremely high level of industry expertise. Because, according to Ms. Berger: “It was very important to me to find an IT partner that is capable of understanding, mapping, and optimizing our complex processes. Winweb moves with the times, has a clear industry focus and is a medium-sized company - just like us.”

High quality requirements

The topicQuality assurance At Berger, this is a top priority, as both conventional beef products and those awarded the AMA quality seal are produced. In principle, all products are subject to the criteria of the beef labeling system (BOS), which requires a high level of control and documentation.

The AMA quality seal also represents an officially recognized, independent quality program of Agrarmarkt Austria Marketing GmbH, which stands for conventionally produced food of above-average quality that is independently controlled and whose origin is traceable. AMA products come exclusively from Austria and are controlled at all stages, from rearing to the end product.

We slaughter and cut up cattle according to the AMA quality program, which is why complete traceability is essential. When selling primal cuts, traceability must be ensured all the way back to the individual farmer.

In addition to the Berger family, the quality manager, Ralph Zickbauer, was also included in the selection process. Zickbauer explains the special requirements that must be covered by a software company. “We slaughter and butcher cattle according to the AMA quality program, which is why seamless Traceability indispensable. When selling coarse cuts, traceability down to the individual farmer must be ensured." To meet these requirements, individual animal batches are formed during slaughter, which in winweb-food provide conclusions about the exact origin and all relevant data of each individual animal.

In Disassembly receipt is charged per Cutting day, Animal species and quality program with connection to the individual animal data a Charge formed. This enables batch-specific or individual-animal labeling of the Cut products, as well as the recording in goods issue with output of the corresponding data on the goods accompanying documents ensured.

Furthermore, winweb-food generates a cutting yield report and an automatic AMA notification. “Winweb impressed us and presented a solution that not only meets our requirements, but is also much easier to use than our old system and saves time”, says Ralph Zickbauer.

Implementation

The implementation of a new software system cannot be compared with the commissioning of a new machine. The goal is to achieve an optimization of business processes and this creates a process that challenges the employees, as all company processes must be reconsidered and ultimately mapped in the software. Through this conceptual work during the implementation phase, new requirements constantly arise to which a software company must respond. At Berger, the implementation was carried out through Winweb's consulting in a Transfair-oriented manner. After an initial kickoff meeting, in which the basic requirements are defined together with the customer and a schedule is prepared, the actual implementation begins. For this purpose, the customer's employees are directly involved and thus learn from the very beginning how to use the system. The consulting team's approach consists of on-site appointments, online training via “TeamViewer”, and telephone support. In training sessions, it is worked out together with the employees how each process can be optimally mapped in the software and it is explained in detail how which data must be entered. Telephone support can be reached via an Austrian number and is available for any questions that arise, updates are also carried out by the Support implemented in consultation with the customer. “Winweb's approach has proven itself many times over and you can tell. If you need a refresher a few days after a training session, you pick up the phone and quickly get back up to speed”, says Franz Berger Jr.

The time savings are particularly noteworthy. Franz Berger Jr.: “These time savings arise, for example, in goods issue, during order entry and labeling, as well as during the import of slaughter data”. For example, labeling is generated automatically and exactly by piece directly from the cutting list. In goods issue, the products are scanned and no longer have to be entered into the system manually. “With Winweb, we feel ideally positioned for the requirements of tomorrow”, says Regina Berger.