SABIC is moving to a best-in-class, global enterprise resource planning system to better serve customers. This system is designed to automate sales and purchasing processes, reduce complexity, and provide faster and more accurate communications. Our target go-live date for North and South America is March 31, 2016, but is subject to change if necessary, to ensure a quality implementation. “Before that time, we want to share a few enhancements that involve our customers,” explains Michael Gilbert, SABIC senior director, Americas commercial.
The changes include adopting the global standard unit of measure (moving from pounds (lbs.) to kilograms (KGs) for all material measurements. The new system also involves:
- Material weights will be invoiced, measured, reported, and shipped in kilograms.
- Pricing will not change but will be based on KGs (conversion factor 1 kg = 2.2046 lbs.)
- Order quantities will automatically round up to the next container size (e.g. a bag order for 26 KG will round to 50 KG if the bag is sold in 25 KG increments). We appreciate our customers’ willingness to submit orders in KGs. SABIC Customer Service will make every effort to catch orders not submitted in KGs through email, fax, and phone and convert them for your convenience. New web portal for ordering products and viewing information
- New user IDs will be\ issued for web access
- Online capability for customers to enter orders and track issues
- Customer training sessions will occur before implementation. One, standard label that is all-inclusive
The label will include material number, unique serial number, handling unit, weight in KG, the batch (lot) number, country of origin, and other information.
Customer Part Number(s)
In the new SABIC platform, the part number embeds both the product and packaging. ”If you purchase our material in more than one container, we will need a unique part number for each,” Gilbert explains, citing as an example that the current method is for the customer to use part number PC141112 when ordering product 141-112 in Bags and 141-112 in Boxes.
In the future, customers will need to use two unique part numbers, one to identify need for Bag and one for Box. Suggested Future Part Numbering: PC141112bag and PC141112box or PC141112 and PC141112A.
“We are committed to communicating throughout the transition so that you can prepare and understand how to work with SABIC in the new system,” Gilbert says, urging the sharing of this information wit appropriate individuals at your company. If you have questions, please contact your SABIC account manager or customer service department at 1-800-752-7842.