Saint-Gobain Glass optimizes its supply chain with IoT technology

Saint-Gobain Glass, a specialist in the manufacture and processing of flat glass, has implemented a tracking solution to pinpoint the exact location of the stillages used to transport flat glass.
This IoT solution, deployed by Orange Business in partnership with Zozio for the digital tracking platform, enables Saint-Gobain Glass to optimize the management of its supply chain.
In the longer term, the solution will also make it possible to schedule inspections of this equipment whenever it passes near a maintenance workshop.

Reliable technology that improves stillage management for optimal tracking

Losing track of equipment is, unfortunately, a common challenge for manufacturers and logistics operators. Saint-Gobain Glass, which produces and processes flat glass for residential and commercial buildings, had occasionally faced this issue.

To store and transport these glass sheets, the company uses stillages. According to Igor Bischoff, Warehouse & Logistics Assistance Manager at Saint-Gobain Glass, “tracking them is essential, both to ensure on-time delivery to our customers and to keep production running smoothly.”

It is therefore crucial to have a clear view of where this equipment is at any given time, whether at customer sites, with carriers or in transit, in order to maximize availability and return it to our plants as quickly as possible, without having to arrange dedicated transport.

Objectives

Ensure stillages are positioned where needed at each site

Provide an intuitive and easy-to-use tracking solution

Reduce supply chain costs through IoT

      Tracking equipment precisely makes it possible to deliver better service to our customers while optimizing our internal logistics.
    

Reliable IoT technology is transforming the supply chain: a tracking solution and an intuitive platform that open up new optimization opportunities

Uncertainty around the location of the stillages made IoT the right solution to reduce the impact on the supply chain. To support this project, the company chose Orange Business and its partner Zozio. Together, they opted for a reliable, long-lasting tracking solution.

Following discussions with the Saint-Gobain Glass teams, Orange Business experts recommended installing GPS trackers on the stillages. A total of 2,300 devices were deployed across Europe, using LTE-M and 2G networks. These trackers come with a guaranteed battery life of up to five years, a long-term solution designed to improve operational efficiency.

To ensure optimal tracking, Orange Business also integrated and customized its partner Zozio’s platform, enabling the trackers to be monitored across Europe. The biggest change for the logistics teams? They can now track the location of the stillages in real time. “And the platform provided by Zozio is intuitive and easy to use,” adds Igor Bischoff.

Zozio Application

IoT is transforming the supply chain: optimized control for better customer service

When IoT comes to the rescue of supply chains, the results are immediate. The return on investment was both rapid and measurable, something Igor Bischoff quickly recognized. The before-and-after comparison is clear: thanks to this IoT project, Saint-Gobain Glass has confirmed that its stillage fleet is properly sized and now has the tools to manage it effectively, avoiding the need to invest in additional stillages.

The digital platform developed by partner Zozio has also made day-to-day work easier for teams. Easy to use, it was quickly adopted. And it does more than provide unprecedented visibility into equipment geolocation, it also helps teams better anticipate maintenance needs. Thanks to the IoT trackers, maintenance teams at a given site are notified when a stillage identified as requiring maintenance arrives on site. This saves time and improves the overall quality of the fleet in circulation.
A new order of GPS trackers is currently underway to complete the rollout and cover the entire fleet.

Key Figures

2 300

Tracking devices already deployed

European sites equipped with the solution

hour of training needed to learn how to use the tracking platform

What the customer says about us

Igor Bischoff – Warehouse & Logistics Assistance Manager, Saint-Gobain Glass

“After one year of working with Orange Business, we can say, first, that they have genuine expertise in this field and, second, that they are highly responsive. At this stage, this GPS tracker deployment project for our stillages has been a real success.”

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Saint-Gobain Glass

Saint-Gobain Glass designs and manufactures innovative glazing solutions for the building sector, including insulating glass, solar control glass, safety glass and decorative glass, to enhance energy performance, comfort and the sustainability of spaces.

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