The Task: Modernization of Product Safety Solutions
Since the Quarzwerke Gruppe in addition to processed quartz sands and kaolins also produces finest quartz powder and surface-coated fillers, it is also necessary for the raw materials supplier to provide safety data sheets and, if necessary, other health-relevant information documents. As part of the Quarzwerke Product Stewardship, safety data sheets are also created for all other products, including those that are not classified. For this purpose, in the Quarzwerke Gruppe, the previously predominantly manual process of creating and sending safety data sheets should be replaced by a solution that is integrated as far as possible into the ERP system. Likewise, the requirements for product notifications to poison control centers in accordance with Article 45 of the CLP Regulation should be represented by an integrated, powerful and easy-to-use software solution. After examining the possible solution options as part of a tender, the Quarzwerke Gruppe decided to use SAP EHS in combination with the 3E EHS Regulatory Content to facilitate the creation of safety data sheets. In order to map the requirements relating to product notifications to the poison control centers, the decision was made in favor of the EPN tool developed by opesus. Within the tender SI PRO has been chosen to implement the selected software products and integrate them into the existing processes.

The Implementation: Predominantly "Remote"
Not least due in part to the Corona-related changes in the world of work, the activities within the project were mainly executed remotely. The services of most project phases, from requirements recording to go-live as well as the subsequent support, were and are provided from SI PRO locations in Mannheim and Berlin using suitable collaboration tools. However, the user training was carried out on-site at the Quarzwerke location in Frechen near Cologne. The solution, which was already largely finished at his point was also very well received by future users during the training.

The result: A tailor-made Product Safety Solution in SAP EHS
In additon to the EHS standard processes for the creation of safety data sheets and hazardous substance labels as well as automaticshipping of reports, some processes from the legacy system were also mapped through customer-specific developments. For example, new Quarzwerke customers in some countries receive a comprehensive information package on the hazards posed by quartz-containing dust, which is created and sent in the background via the EHS's automatic report shipping functionality. "We have high standards when it comes to communicating safety-relevant information and therefore want to ensure and document in a comprehensible manner that all relevant documents have been sent." explains Dr. Andreas Rudersdorf, Head of Quality/Environmental Management & Product Safety. Since the successful go-live at the end of 2022, the Quarzwerke Gruppe has been working productively with its SAP EHS system and will continue to be supported by SI PRO as part of ongoing support.