Orca Platform

orca. organizing company assets.

Orca is the platform for processes around supplier tools in the automotive industry for inventories, acceptances, relocations and disposals.

Orca connects the tooling process partners across companies in their roles as owners, contractors, operators and tool manufacturers.

Orca is designed and operated by automotive tool management experts as a best-practice and future industry standard for managing hundreds of thousands of tools at thousands of companies and locations, including and especially in the n-tier chain.

Orca application interface — Orca creates transparency across hundreds of thousands of manufacturing assets!

The story of orca

Supply chain tooling presents significant challenges to every OEM and to suppliers. Supplier tools are subject to inventory obligations. This is difficult to impossible to fulfill by traditional means, not to mention the effort involved. In addition, the VAT requirements of the country of location are relevant for acceptance and relocation, and the considerable resulting complexity cannot be adequately addressed without automation. To meet these challenges, orca was founded. As a standard solution for OEMs and suppliers, because these issues are always similar. The resulting solution is already in use at a major automotive manufacturer.

Orca is based on Sherlock

Traditional IT approaches are not suitable for the millions of objects and links in orca. Orca therefore runs on the basis of Fischer's Sherlock data management platform. Sherlock is a SaaS solution based on a graph database to which asset accounting, purchasing, quality management, finance and maintenance systems are connected via REST API using standardized processes. Through Sherlock, the tool data of additional OEMs and suppliers are available on orca in a very short time.

The benefit of the platform

If 10% of the tools cannot be found during an inventory, this can jeopardize the annual profit, as they would have to be written off.
If tools have been moved to another country and are not traceable, this can lead to sales tax and compliance issues. The auditor's certification could be restricted. The solution approach is thus clear: tools worth several billion euros must be able to be managed transparently. With the orca platform, this can be done intuitively across the entire supply chain.

Functions of the platform orca

Process templates

Depending on the requirement (and OEM), processes are run through to different depths, but they are always similar overall. For example, for an inventory confirmation a "check mark" is sufficient, for a full inventory photos are needed as proof, etc.

Organization

Each company can assign roles and responsibilities in such a way that the tools are anchored accordingly, regardless of the company size, number of locations, etc. of its own organization. From the corporate group to the individual site.

N-tier-chain /sub-suppliers

Any company can bring sub-suppliers onto the platform or designate them as a sub-supplier. Tools can then be forwarded when you are at the sub, the sub has all the features it needs with no fees.

Mobil as Standard

Orca works on all mobile devices, without separate apps. This means that photos and checks can be set up and made directly on the tool.

Legitimate interest

The supply chain up to the tool location is only displayed to the stakeholders as far as it is necessary for the execution of the processes.

Production tool - information

Everyone involved sees the information about the tool and can add their own. Very useful for organizing the tools at companies that can do little with an inventory number from the OEM, but use BM numbers, FM numbers and the like for operation and maintenance.

Validation

Evidence in orca is validated automatically. Photos are analyzed, inventory numbers are read and compared, duplication checks are performed, etc.

Rules and regulations

Projects, such as relocations, are automatically assessed for permissibility and feasibility. The rules and regulations can be set by the departments; for the first time, there is something like an "automatic tax advisor" here.

Automatically generated paper trail

orca automatically generates the necessary documents, e.g. pro-forma invoices, relocation permits, etc. for the processing of a transaction towards tax authorities, customs and forwarding agent.

Tracker inventory

Active trackers replace inventory confirmation and inventory.

Processes on the orca platform

Declaration of readiness for acceptance - Start the end-to-end tool management process directly with the declaration of readiness for acceptance by the supplier.
Inventory - Perform inventories of production equipment efficiently. No matter who they are with or where they are located. Remotely or on-site.
Relocation - Register, plan and execute relocations of production equipment. Worldwide, shelf-based.
Recycling - Optimal recycling of production equipment at the end of its life cycle. With all parties involved and documentation.

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Sherlock has proven itself as the basis for orca and I would make the decision for Fischer as a partner again. The struggle for the best solution and the high quality distinguish Fischer.
The journey has only just begun, I am glad to have Fischer on board.

Burkhard Grosche Managing partner of orca