Bilfinger Maintenance Netherlands B.V. (formerly STORK Netherlands) provides maintenance services for industrial installations worldwide, such as chemical plants and energy facilities. The company employs 17,000 people globally, of whom 2,500 are based in the Netherlands.
Bilfinger works with Centix for several reasons: “Efficiency, ease of use, and centralisation of operations.”
“Centix has practical expertise and translates this directly into a solution.”
Situation before Centix: a process improvement was needed.
Bilfinger, like Centix, is ISO-certified. This means the company must meet high standards when it comes to safety and the quality of its services. Bilfinger partnered with Centix to achieve process improvements. “Because of all the paperwork, we lacked sufficient oversight. That needed to be resolved,” says Technology Manager Tim Leferink.
At the time the decision was made, the Rotterdam branch was already using the Asset Management module in Centix Office. The four branches in the Netherlands and Belgium each had their own methods and checklists, even though they carried out the same inspections. As a result, inspections were not always performed correctly or on time.To address this, Bilfinger Maintenance Netherlands decided to implement Centix nationwide, enabling a centralised and standardised approach to inspections and asset management.
Development of customised workshop software
Later, IRIS was developed for inspection and overhaul activities, including work on rotating equipment, valves, and electric motors. The system now records the entire overhaul process for thousands of components, such as shut-off valves, control valves, and safety valves.
To simplify this process, Bilfinger has also introduced tablets. Before their introduction, mechanics and inspectors would write everything down manually and then enter the data into a computer, which often led to errors and wasted time.
Super Key User Eric Snopkowski explains that the use of tablets has virtually eliminated these issues: “There are quite a few steps you’re required to follow — if you skip one, you can’t move on. In that sense, it’s very user-friendly.”
Centix’s solution: registration and management
Bilfinger Maintenance Netherlands has been working with Centix since 2016, when the company was still known as STORK. The Dutch industrial maintenance company initially started by registering work equipment in Centix. From there, a tailor-made solution called IRIS was developed specifically for the specialist unit responsible for the overhaul of rotating equipment, electric motors, control valves, shut-off valves, and safety valves.
This custom Centix solution is used to manage the entire inspection and overhaul process within Bilfinger’s workshops. The process begins with an inspection and test to assess whether the equipment functions properly. The unit is then disassembled, cleaned, and, if necessary, reassembled with new parts — after which it is tested again and painted. This ensures the equipment can operate reliably for years to come.
Centix is currently working on new test bench software developed specifically for Bilfinger. All equipment received by Bilfinger is tested both before and after overhaul, and photos are taken as standard. The entire process can be managed digitally using Centix software.
In addition, Bilfinger uses the Centix App for its Lubrication Services. With this app, the company records and reports periodic lubrication activities performed on-site for its clients — directly online and in real time.
Benefits / Results with Centix: Clarity and oversight
- Reliable data that is available online to everyone.
- Work is carried out more safely, efficiently, in a centralised manner, and without the use of paper.
- Clarity and overview:
+ Processes are now better organised, enabling Bilfinger to deliver higher-quality work.
+ All equipment is now registered online and inspected on time. - Improved customer service:
Bilfinger’s customers can now track the entire overhaul process, from initial testing to completion and return. That’s the extra level of customer service that Bilfinger provides. - Centix provides a wealth of valuable data that can be used for analysis to make workflows even more efficient.
- Based on this data, Bilfinger can serve its customers even better by providing advice on the equipment they use.
- Bilfinger has built a strong team around Centix. The advantage of centralised collaboration in one system: everyone is moving in the same direction.
Discover what Centix can do for your organisation
Have you become interested and would like to learn more? I would be happy to guide you through the possibilities Centix has to offer in a product demonstration. Depending on your requirements, I will brief you in half an hour to an hour and a half to give you a clear picture of our complete equipment management solution!
