Heather Forton, Supply-Chain Project Manager
Michigan-based Legend Valve, a global leader in industrial valve manufacturing, understands the critical importance of adhering to regulatory standards like the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) for its complex supply chain, which spans 14 countries. However, its reliance on spreadsheets had created a compliance bottleneck, hindering efficiency and data integrity.
Legend Valve: A Global Manufacturer’s Quest for CTPAT Efficiency
Heather Forton, Legend Valve’s project manager overseeing compliance efforts, recalls the difficulties: “Our previous system was somewhat disjointed and made it difficult to easily track critical information. Shared access risked accidental overwrites, creating a constant concern about data integrity.”
The company’s existing manual processes for report generation and audit preparation were time consuming and error prone. The lack of real-time visibility into supplier performance and compliance further complicated matters.
“CTPAT compliance is vital, but the criteria for providing documented secured processes could be overwhelming,” Heather explains. “We needed a solution to streamline our efforts and empower our teams.”
Legend Valve sought a platform to centralize data, automate processes where possible, and enhance collaboration – a solution to address the challenges of maintaining CTPAT compliance in a complex global trade environment.
For Legend Valve, CTPAT compliance isn't merely a checkbox; it's a strategic advantage that underpins the company's ability to operate efficiently and maintain the trust of its customers and partners. By voluntarily participating in CTPAT, Legend Valve demonstrates its commitment to:
In its search for a solution, Legend Valve discovered Kintone, a no-code/low-code workplace platform that promised to empower teams to build and customize applications without extensive coding knowledge.
“Kintone’s no-code/low-code approach immediately caught my attention,” Heather recalls. “It promised to empower our teams to build and customize applications without relying heavily on IT resources. Kintone provided us with personalized guidance throughout the free trial and evaluation process.”
Kintone’s flexibility, ease of use, and affordability, coupled with exceptional customer support, aligned perfectly with Legend Valve’s needs.
With the support of Kyle, a dedicated Kintone consultant, Heather and her team tailored Kintone to Legend’s specific CTPAT requirements.
Kintone’s API functionality proved invaluable, enabling seamless integration with their customs broker’s system. “This automation reduced the reliance on tedious and error-prone process of manual data entry,” Heather notes.
The initial implementation focused on streamlining CTPAT compliance within the supply chain department. However, Kintone’s success quickly sparked interest across other departments.
“The positive impact on our supply-chain operations was undeniable,” Heather explains. “And this caught the attention of other department heads.”
Soon, Kintone’s influence spread. The engineering and product development group adopted Kintone for new product onboarding, creating a gated process to ensure efficient documentation and approvals. The finance team leveraged the platform for landed cost calculations and reporting, improving accuracy and providing real-time insights. The receiving team is also implementing Kintone to optimize tracking of inbound cargo shipments, manage delivery appointments, and enhance data flow.
Heather observes, “Kintone’s organic adoption is a testament to its versatility and ease of use. It empowers teams across the organization to create solutions that meet their specific needs.”
Legend Valve’s implementation of Kintone delivered tangible results, impacting both CTPAT compliance and overall supply-chain operations.
We went from taking months to prepare for an audit to being able to do it within the same day.”
- Heather Forton, Supply-Chain Project Manager, Legend Valve
Beyond these measurable benefits, Kintone empowered Legend Valve’s teams. The platform’s user-friendly interface allowed employees to take ownership of their processes and develop custom solutions. This culture of innovation and continuous improvement, coupled with optimized processes and enhanced transparency, allows Legend Valve to strategically support and plan for their ever-growing supply chain.
Legend Valve’s journey with Kintone is far from over. As the company continues to expand and evolve, Heather envisions Kintone playing an integral role across the organization, connecting data and workflows across multiple departments.
“We see Kintone as a catalyst for innovation,” she explains. “As we expand into new markets, Kintone will help us maintain agility and responsiveness, adapting quickly to changing needs and regulatory requirements.”
Reflecting on Legend Valve’s experience, Heather observes: “Kintone has been a catalyst for positive change within our organization. It has transformed the way we work, empowering our teams and enabling us to achieve greater efficiency, collaboration, and regulatory adherence.”
When considering a no-code platform like Kintone over proprietary software, Heather points to several benefits:
Legend Valve’s success story underscores the transformative power of no-code/low-code workplace platforms in today's complex global trade environment. By embracing Kintone, Legend Valve not only conquered its CTPAT compliance challenges but also fostered a culture of empowerment, efficiency, and innovation.
The platform’s flexibility, ease of use, and exceptional customer support enabled Legend Valve to achieve remarkable results, from streamlined processes and cost savings to improved collaboration and data-driven decision-making.
If your organization seeks to optimize operations, enhance teamwork, and achieve compliance goals, Kintone could be the key to unlocking your full potential.
Interview Date: August 20th, 2024
Kintone Product Introduction Video
