Case Study Automated testing at the NOSTA Group

The full-service logistics provider NOSTA Group has optimized and standardized its warehouse processes at several locations with PSIwms.

Industry: Logistics
Customer: NOSTA Group

Automated testing at the NOSTA Group

Founded in 1978, the NOSTA Group is a second-generation family business headquartered in Osnabrück, Germany. With more than 800 employees at over 40 locations worldwide, the full-service logistics provider offers its customers customized logistics concepts along the entire value chain. This includes services in the areas of transportation management, warehousing and value-added services.

Numerous logistics processes take place at the company's own warehouses - from warehousing to IT-supported order processing and picking to shipping. Since 2008, the company has been using PSIwms to optimally control the complex material flows and picking processes

Mastering challenges

In the past, the NOSTA Group used several systems, some of which it had developed itself, to coordinate the highly complex infrastructure and picking processes at its locations around the world. This resulted in isolated solutions that were difficult to share. Manual steps slowed down efficiency, especially for receiving and inspection. This approach was time-consuming and error-prone, resulting in a lack of visibility in inventory documentation and processes.

Customer's objective

NOSTA was looking for a way to manage its logistics processes transparently and efficiently across all of its sites to replace its previous isolated solutions. With multiple locations, it was important to standardize the processes.

Solution approach

Since 2008, NOSTA has been using the warehouse management system PSIwms to standardize and optimize warehouse processes. The system is now in use at the Ladbergen, Melle, Rinteln, Seevetal, Stadthagen and Viernheim sites, and a key advantage of PSIwms is the standardization of processes at different sites. This means that employees can be deployed flexibly without the need for extensive training or adjustments. In addition, the modular architecture of the system allows for easy expansion: New locations can be integrated or removed with minimal IT effort.

PSIwms is designed so that multiple instances can be connected to a higher-level system without the need for a direct connection to a host system. Within the company structure, subordinate systems are connected to a central PSIwms, which manages all article master data as well as notification and order items.

Another highlight is the automated testing tool, which allows changes to warehouse processes and software to be tested non-invasively before implementation. Thanks to its intuitive usability, even employees without programming knowledge can create tests independently, which significantly increases the efficiency and security of adaptations.

Warehouse characteristics

Clients from different industries: FMCG, paper, spirits, DIY
EAN goods receipt
Layer order picking
Single-piece orders
Shipping system
Coupled systems with the Warehouse Service Broker

The result in detail

Automated testing has become indispensable for NOSTA. The tool has played a key role in increasing the company's efficiency. Manual testing is no longer an option given the current volume of data.

With PSIwms, we have a powerful all-in-one solution that allows us to manage our warehouse processes efficiently and transparently across multiple locations. Thanks to our membership in the PSIwms Competence Group, we are also able to actively participate in the further development of the system.

Rainer Mönnig IT Process Manager, NOSTA Group

Conclusion

By introducing PSIwms, the NOSTA Group was able to replace inefficient isolated solutions and standardize its logistics processes across all locations. The modular structure allows for flexible expansion without high IT costs, while the automated test tool significantly improves the efficiency and security of adaptations. Overall, the changeover has increased transparency, reduced error rates, and optimized processes for the long term.