Greenfield Implementation of SAP S/4HANA

How Nidec Aerospace, USA replaced a highly customized legacy ERP with a standardized SAP S/4HANA 2023 core on SAP RISE, across all plants and business units.

Greenfield Implementation of SAP S/4HANA
Live on SAP S/4HANA 2023
Nidec Aerospace, USA Greenfield · S/4HANA · SAP RISE
A Leading Force in Electric Aerospace Propulsion

A Leading Force in Electric Aerospace Propulsion

Nidec Aerospace, USA is a leading force in the aerospace industry, specializing in electric motor technology and aviation. A Nidec and Embraer joint venture, it develops Electric Propulsion Systems (EPS) for an expansive range of aerospace applications.

Nidec solutions are designed to advance the aviation sector, spanning eVTOL, eSTOL, eCTOL, and various drones for agricultural, cargo, and specialized uses.

Business Needs: A Digital Foundation for Growth

Nidec Aerospace needed to automate processes and improve data accuracy, enable real-time analytics for better decisions, and enhance compliance, quality and supply chain visibility, while building a digital foundation for growth and Industry 4.0 initiatives.

  • Process automation
  • Data accuracy
  • Real-time analytics
  • Compliance and quality
  • Supply chain visibility
  • Industry 4.0 foundation

The IT Environment, Before and After

Nidec Aerospace moved to SAP S/4HANA 2023 on SAP RISE as a greenfield implementation, rather than carrying its legacy customizations forward.

Component Before After
ERP system Legacy ERP SAP S/4HANA
Condition Highly customized, outdated SAP Best Practices
Release Lacked modern integration SAP RISE S/4HANA 2023
Deployment model Separate plant and business unit processes Greenfield implementation

What the Legacy ERP Was Holding Back

The existing ERP had served Nidec Aerospace, but it was setting the ceiling on accuracy, compliance and visibility.

Outdated, Heavily Customized ERP

The existing ERP was highly customized, outdated, and lacked modern integration.

Redundancy and Inefficiency

The legacy landscape caused redundancy, inaccuracy, and operational inefficiencies.

Stronger Controls Needed

The business needed stronger controls to meet aerospace standards.

Complex Global Supply Chain

Operations spanned global suppliers, plants, and service centers, leading to a complex supply chain.

Delayed Decisions

Limited data visibility delayed decisions across the business.

A Greenfield Implementation, Built on SAP Best Practices

Instead of converting the old system, Nidec Aerospace started fresh on SAP S/4HANA and brought over only clean, validated data.

  • SAP S/4HANA across all sites Implementation of SAP S/4HANA (on-premises) across all plants and business units.
  • Cleansed and migrated data Legacy master and transactional data was cleansed and migrated to S/4HANA using SAP Best Practices.
  • Role-Based Access Control A robust role-based access control (RBAC) model ensures SOX and export compliance.
  • Training and change management Structured end-user training and change management workshops.
A Greenfield Implementation, Built on SAP Best Practices

Outcomes From a Standardized, Data-Driven Core

Outcomes From a Standardized, Data-Driven Core

Standardized processes

Processes standardized across plants and distribution centres, ensuring consistency and transparency.

99%+ master data accuracy

Achieved at the time of go-live.

Real-time dashboards and KPIs

Enabled quick decision-making for executives and operations.

30% better inventory accuracy, 20% shorter order-to-cash cycle

Improved inventory accuracy by 30% and reduced order-to-cash cycle time by 20%.

A scalable digital core

Supports future initiatives like IoT, predictive maintenance, and smart manufacturing.