Our Supply Chain Heroes program recognizes and celebrates the hard work of LeanDNA customers who optimize inventory, reduce shortages, and empower their companies to operate more efficiently. Every hero has a story, and we’re here to tell them.
In the ever-evolving world of supply chain management, it takes a visionary leader to transform challenges into opportunities. Enter Craig Schmitz, Senior Procurement Manager at Johnson Controls, who is leading the charge in inventory management innovation and supplier collaboration. Through his leadership and strategic use of technology like LeanDNA, Craig has empowered his teams to break down silos, streamline operations, and unlock new levels of visibility across the organization, earning his spot as a Supply Chain Hero.
Overcoming Disconnected Teams and Systems
Craig faced a significant challenge: managing inventory across multiple ERP systems and disconnected teams. This decentralized approach made it difficult for Craigs’s team to see inventory levels across the business or understand the full impact of supply decisions. With limited visibility and ineffective communication, Craig’s teams struggled to manage both excess inventory and shortages.
“We have multiple ERP systems, and it was very difficult for our teams to effectively communicate with each other.” -Craig Schmitz, Senior Procurement Manager at Johnson Controls
Despite trying various third-party solutions, Johnson Controls couldn’t achieve transparency or collaboration at a global view. Without a clear picture of inventory levels across multiple locations, it was difficult to make improvements and teams could not be as efficient as they needed to be.
Reducing Noise in ERP Systems
With Craig’s strategic leadership, the teams have made tremendous strides in cleaning up ERP data and addressing long-standing issues that were slowing down operations.
“LeanDNA showed us how much noise we have in our ERP system.” -Craig Schmitz, Senior Procurement Manager at Johnson Controls
By harnessing the tools in the LeanDNA platform , Craig empowered his teams to use inventory actions to reduce excess stock. He also leveraged the safety stock and PFEP (Plan for Every Part) reports to improve planning and visibility across the entire supply chain. His leadership ensured that the data-driven insights provided by LeanDNA became a catalyst for real, actionable change—optimizing processes and driving efficiency across Johnson Controls.
Craig’s ability to focus on these strategic improvements has not only improved the organization’s operational effectiveness but also enhanced communication and collaboration, ensuring the team is now working more efficiently.
Reducing Manual Transactions by the Thousands
One of the most impactful innovations Craig and his team have embraced is the implementation of LeanDNA’s Write Back. This capability automates the process of updating ERP systems with supply order details entered into LeanDNA. This allows supplier data from the Supplier Workbench to be automatically transmitted back into Johnson Controls’ ERP system, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual data entry.
“The Write Back implementation has reduced the manual transactions from our material and planning teams by the thousands.” -Craig Schmitz, Senior Procurement Manager at Johnson Controls
This automation has also significantly improved supplier engagement, a critical area for Craig’s team. Their goal is to have 90% of their supply base integrated with LeanDNA, ensuring that suppliers provide up-to-date data on material deliveries. This visibility supports Johnson Controls’ Clear to Build process, helping sites anticipate material arrivals and optimize production planning.
A Tip from the Hero
We like to ask every Supply Chain Hero the same question. What is the most valuable thing you have learned that you would want to share with other supply chain professionals? Craig emphasized the importance of leadership support to drive meaningful change.
“At the beginning, we were only halfway into utilizing LeanDNA. It was on the list of things to do, but not much of a priority. Now that LeanDNA is included in our leadership goals and objectives, the implementation and engagement metrics have really increased.”
Craig also highlights how rapidly technology is changing in the world today and organizations need to adopt the mindset to embrace these changes.
“The old way of “this is how we have always done it” does not work any longer and the company will fall behind. LeanDNA is a tool that has embraced the technology challenge and uses analytics to provide a greater understanding of what is happening at a site with materials/planning.”
Craig Schmitz’s leadership at Johnson Controls exemplifies what it means to be a Supply Chain Hero. By strategically embracing modern tools like LeanDNA and fostering collaboration across teams, Craig has empowered his organization to operate with greater efficiency and clarity. His forward-thinking approach to reducing ERP noise and automating processes has set Johnson Controls on a path toward continued success.
If you’d like to nominate someone for our Supply Chain Hero program or view more heroes stories, click here.
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