How Japanese-Brazilian pulp group Cenibra is revolutionizing its operations via digitization

The most important digitalization initiatives underway by Japanese-Brazilian paper and pulp group Cenibra include generative AI for maintenance and operation reports, updating and migrating systems to the public cloud, and applying digital twin pilots.

In the cloud space, for instance, the company is negotiating a major migration project with AWS, Anamaria Ferreira de Oliveira, Cenibra's IT systems coordinator, told BNamericas.

“We're currently finishing [the structuring] of a cloud project with AWS and also to allow us to assess the next steps to take on our digital road. Today our [SAP ERP] S/4 runs on-premise,” the executive said on the sidelines of the SAP Now event in São Paulo.

Cenibra is also evaluating Microsoft's Azure platform, among other systems, some of which already run in the cloud. The group is a client of Microsoft for the Office and 365 packages. 

Founded in 1973 in Brazil's Minas Gerais state, the pulp producer has been gradually evolving its front-end and back-office systems over the years, as well as digitizing and updating its platforms.

However, some of them still run on internal structures. This is the case of the main management software, provided by SAP, S/4, which was first implemented more than three years ago.

GOING DIGITAL

Cenibra's digital transformation project began to be developed in 2017. The following year, the group began implementing mobility solutions for its forestry operations.

In 2020, as part of its digital transformation, the company began migrating its main software to SAP's S/4 Hana.

This went live in May 2021 and allowed the company, according to Oliveira, to apply mobility and asset management services in its industrial operations and factory floor, and for reliability and processes in its maintenance area.

Cenibra produces around 1.2Mt of short fiber pulp per year, serving production of toilet paper, paper towels and diapers, among other things.

With 8,000 employees, 5,400 of which are direct, the company exports practically all (98%) of its production. Only 2% remains in Latin America.

The main destinations for its products are Asia, Europe and North America.

In total, Cenibra manages around 254,000ha per year, 52% of which are related to planting for production and 48% involving native forest.

ASSET MANAGEMENT

By implementing S/4 Hana in its industrial operation, Cenibra adopted SAP's Service and Asset Manager (SAM) solution, a mobile application that works offline and online to streamline inspection and maintenance processes. 

These include equipment inspections, bills of materials, service order entries and others. 

The device used was a Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro. Tec2Cloud was the partner in SAM's implementation and integration.

Previously, each agent took seven hours to process and enter inspection results into the systems, coming from more than 4,800 points inspected. After implementation, this started to be done practically in real time.

The process has also reduced discrepancies and anomalies and the number of hours worked by staff.

“We haven't yet managed to eliminate 100% of all manual forms at Cenibra. But we're on that path,” said Oliveira about the initiative.

RPA, GPT AND MORE

Another pillar of Cenibra's digital transformation project involved the deployment of robotic process automation (RPA) tools. 

After conducting proof of concept tests with four solutions, the company opted for SAP Build Process Automation.

“We carried out a project with seven bots. We delivered two more recently and this year we're delivering two more,” Oliveira said.

RPA consists of software robots to automate repetitive business processes. In the case of Cenibra, they were used for the areas of control, human resources and inspection.

Minsait, part of the Indra group, was the partner in the RPA project.

Cenibra also applies an execution management software system, a platform that monitors and controls production processes in the factory, and this year is evolving its management models to the World Class Manufacturing (WCM) methodology.

At present, the company is using ChatGPT to summarize information from the factory floor, in the maintenance, inspection and production areas, said Oliveira.

“This year we have a major journey in the area of cybersecurity, in the area of data and data management, and we're creating a roadmap for implementing AI,” Oliveira said at the event.

Another company bet is digital twins.

“We're currently studying an initiative for digital twins," she said, although admitting that nothing was yet in operation.