Boehringer Ingelheim

Challenges

Global pharmaceutical companies need efficient, standardized processes to guarantee compliance with regulations for product quality and traceability. With these benefits in mind, the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim embarked on a program to standardize its most important production and finance processes and the systems that support them. As a key part of the program, the organization implemented a new systems environment and centralized ERP system, controlling finance, production and logistics processes. Within the framework of the global program, Boehringer Ingelheim needed to train thousands of users in multiple countries to work with the new systems and processes. As well as providing training for staff in seven languages, the company needed tools to deliver training for existing employees and new starters in a standardized way, wherever in the world they work.

Initially, the Boehringer Ingelheim training team used mostly static, screenshot-based applications to create training materials. These were used in conjunction with a “training client”, a version of the ERP implemented specifically for training purposes. This approach was used to deliver classroom training for employees in two countries. However, the solution was not scalable enough to be used globally, and could not be updated easily to reflect changes made to the live ERP application.

Solutions

To overcome these challenges, Boehringer Ingelheim decided to deploy the Assima Solution. This creates clones of all the functionality of the key applications. These clones are used as interactive ERP training exercises for staff and precisely replicate the functionality of the live ERP system. “Four Assima consultants helped our training team create about 500 different training exercises using Assima Training Suite in just four months,” says Dr. Klockow, Global Training Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim. “We then packaged up the exercises, which cover all the major functionality of the ERP system, to provide role-specific training for employees.”

Before the ERP system was deployed in production, end users around the world were trained using Assima Training Suite during classroom sessions. Assima's ERP training modules exactly replicate the live system, which eliminated the need to create and maintain stand-alone training clients. Training is also highly scalable and constantly available for employees. “From now on, end users can access training exercises online in their own time to keep up to date with the latest changes to the live system,” says Dr. Klockow. “This means we can keep adequate training levels for our employees and really use processes and systems in a globally standardized way.”

Results and Benefits

With Assima Suite, Boehringer Ingelheim has already trained employees in different countries and multiple languages on the new global systems.

Expert ongoing support from Assima

At first, four training specialists from Assima supported Boehringer Ingelheim in developing the required training modules quickly and cost-efficiently. “The fact that Assima could support our training program on-site was a critical success factor for this project,” says Dr. Klockow. “As well as helping us develop training modules faster, we have gained the skills and expertise we need to develop effective training materials ourselves in the future.”

Efficient cost-effective training in multiple languages

Using Assima Solution, Boehringer Ingelheim has created training exercises that can be used to deliver systems training in multiple languages. This means there is only one set of exercises to update when changes are made to the live applications, reducing administrative workloads, times and costs.

Excellent, comprehensive training for users

The Assima Cloning Suite clones exactly replicate the functionality of the ERP applications. As a result, employees were able to work confidently with the new ERP implementation from day one.

Scalability to support global training needs

Boehringer Ingelheim has set a target to provide on-going training to additional employees with Assima Suite materials over the coming years.