VERWO AG: competently delivering robust industrial solutions.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems help production facilities manage day-to-day operations and processes. However, information can still fall through the cracks, hindering corporate communications and transparency. VERWO AG, a leading competence center specializing in system assembly in Switzerland, has solved this challenge by introducing the task management tool MeisterTask to their operations. As a result, VERWO AG has successfully streamlined workflows, stopped email overload and significantly reduced calendar meetings – becoming a much leaner and more agile organization.
The challenge: creating greater corporate transparency while maintaining efficiencies
Beatrix Garai, Application Engineer at VERWO, introduced MeisterTask to her firm in early 2020. She recognized that a complementary task management tool would help VERWO optimize general workflows. Her goal was to establish processes that would increase transparency and efficiency across the organization.
Based in Reichenburg, Switzerland, VERWO AG specializes in system assembly. Their core business is a competence center that develops specialized services in components, systems, process optimization, and strategic and operational procurement. Garai saw an opportunity to streamline their workflows and create more efficient internal communications using a solution like MeisterTask.
We managed information flows poorly, especially during larger projects. We were slaves to Excel spreadsheets and email reminders. We needed to increase transparency and clarify who was responsible for what. We needed to change our approach so we could increase fundamental efficiencies.
Beatrix Garai
Application Engineer, VERWO
Garai’s project management experience helped her recognize outdated systems that obstructed future growth and productivity. She sought buy-in from senior leadership to create new systems that make their organization more efficient.
Philipp Loch is Head of Supply Chain and Operational Excellence. He agreed with Garai’s logic and helped coordinate her efforts to implement a task management solution across their organization.
We managed all our meetings, projects and external visits in Excel. We had so many different databases and lists that were either getting siloed or being used ineffectively. We realized time was money. Therefore, we urgently needed a solution capable of centralizing our tasks.
Philipp Loch
Head of Supply Chain, VERWO
VERWO AG shortlisted many tools that could help implement task management structures. Some solutions were already in use throughout the company, such as MS Planner.
Ultimately, it was MeisterTask that came out on top. Garai, Loch, and other quality planning experts recognized MeisterTask as the superior choice that could directly solve their most pressing challenges.
MeisterTask was unbeatable in terms of user-friendliness and design. The platform’s intuitive design made it easy to roll out the system across the company.
Beatrix Garai
Application Engineer, VERWO
The solution: an agile approach to task and workflow management with MeisterTask
MeisterTask was first tested by upper management and then green-lit for the team leads to try out. The second round of testing, evaluation, and quality assurance was a rampant success. Licenses were purchased for 90 users, and the number of active users has since expanded to 140.
Users were able to get on board with MeisterTask quickly thanks to the availability of different project templates configured by VERWO. Templates make it easier for users with less experience in digital software to reap the tool’s benefits. For example, the columns and tags in new project boards were preconfigured. Recurring tasks also appear on new boards, meaning project managers simply update tasks with project-specific information.
MeisterTask has also improved internal communications and enabled all team members to adopt problem-solving methodologies. For example, suppose a worker has a problem with their machine and tells their supervisor. If the problem cannot be solved immediately, a task is created in MeisterTask to find a viable solution. That workflow is implemented into project schedules, allowing all challenges to be remedied rather than fall through the cracks.
An ERP system is a dinosaur compared to MeisterTask. It’s just far less agile. We’ve realized how helpful an auxiliary task management tool can be for a production facility like VERWO. Every workstation now has access to MeisterTask. We use MeisterTask to complement our day-to-day task management workflows.
Beatrix Garai
Application Engineer, VERWO
The outcome: fewer emails and meetings, greater digitization and agile workflows
MeisterTask has revolutionized the way VERWO works. Managing tasks in MeisterTask has streamlined communication to such an extent that the volume of emails has been reduced by roughly 50%, according to Beatrix Garai and Philipp Loch. The number of project meetings has also been massively reduced.
We used to organize project meetings more or less every week. Using MeisterTask, we’ve increased the transparency of task assignment and management and slashed the number of meetings we need. Now, we operate much more flexibly and efficiently. It’s also easier to maintain clarity because every process is visible in MeisterTask.
Philipp Loch
Head of Supply Chain, VERWO
Now that MeisterTask is being used to handle task management, the team at VERWO feels well-equipped to achieve its ambitious goals.
We’re currently working on a digitalization roadmap using MeisterTask. It’s become a fundamental part of our digitization process, allowing us to future-proof and adapt our existing processes.
Beatrix Garai
Application Engineer, VERWO
