Kingspan, a global leader in insulation and building solutions, operates on a global scale with 27,000 employees and 273 manufacturing sites across 80 countries. The company recognized that gaining control of its data was essential to driving operational efficiency and sustaining growth.
Its product range spans everything from insulated panels to rainwater harvesting systems, all united by a commitment to reducing environmental impact.
To address the complexities of managing product information across its organization, Kingspan partnered with Stibo Systems. The company sought a robust Product Information Management (PIM) system to better streamline its data, boost efficiency and enhance its ability to meet diverse regulatory requirements across the countries in which it operates.
Challenges: Fragmentation and inconsistency across a decentralized organization
Kingspan's decentralized organizational structure, with each of its seven divisions operating autonomously, presented some unique hurdles in its data management.
Data silos and tribal knowledge
With 273 manufacturing sites spread across 80 countries, data was scattered across a huge network of ERPs, CRMs and other systems. Each division functioned independently, often relying on "tribal knowledge."
It was difficult to get a clear, consistent view of the company’s product offerings, which included multiple independent brands and a wide range of building solutions, from insulation and roofing to renewable energy technologies and data center infrastructure.
Managing a maze of legislations
Operating in 80 countries, the company had to comply with numerous local building codes and product standards. And with each country having its own unique set of requirements, maintaining accurate and up-to-date product information was a constant challenge. This was made even more difficult without a centralized system to track and manage these changes.
Constant mergers and acquisitions
Kingspan's growth strategy involved mergers and acquisitions. New companies and their data continually needed to be integrated into the existing infrastructure. Each new acquisition brought its own set of legacy systems and data practices.
More digital channels mean more data
As digital channels grow in importance, the company needs more available, accurate and consistent product information. Customers expect detailed product specifications, certifications and supporting documentation online.
But with data fragmented across the organization, it was difficult to efficiently feed these digital channels with the high-quality information they needed. This often led to more manual work, duplicated work and inconsistencies. This created several challenges such as:
- Different product names and descriptions across divisions
- Difficulty tracking product certifications for different countries
- Inconsistent data on product dimensions and technical specifications
- Manual effort to update product information on the website and other channels
- Lack of visibility into product data for reporting and analysis
"Siloed data everywhere around the organization, coupled with tribal knowledge...worked while it worked. But it's not going to cut it as we go forward, with changing legislations." – Nikita Ticku, PIM Application Architect, Kingspan
Solution: From fragmented data to a single source of truth
The company knew it needed a reliable and centralized system to manage its complex product information.
It decided to partner with Stibo Systems to implement the company’s master data management solution. This wasn't just about choosing the right technology – it was about transforming how Kingspan managed and used its product data.
Change management
Kingspan understood that change management was key and started educating its workforce on the importance of PIM and how it could benefit the organization.
This involved creating engaging content which helped explaining PIM in simple terms. It then launched a minimum viable product (MVP), focusing on a smaller subset of products to test the system and get feedback.
Adapting the model
The initial MVP, based on a "marketed product" approach, proved to be too limited for the company’s complex needs.
Kingspan needed a system that could accommodate both manufacturing and marketing data – one that reflected the different configurations and regional variations of its products. Stibo Systems Platform gave it the flexibility to adapt the data model.
To address this, the company transitioned to a "buy-side, sell-side" model, which it further adapted to a "manufacture and market" approach. This way, it could capture detailed information about how products were manufactured, configured and sold across different markets – all within Stibo Systems Platform.
Full rollout and upskilling
With a refined data model in place, Kingspan rolled out Stibo Systems Platform across three of its seven divisions, covering a significant portion of its revenue-generating products. The team also underwent training and upskilling to make sure the company got as much value out of the system as possible.
Data ownership and standardization
To make sure the product data was consistent and of the highest quality, the team made data ownership a key priority. Using the Stibo Systems Platform’s robust data governance capabilities, it made individuals responsible for the accuracy and completeness of product information.
The company also standardized terminology across divisions, making sure everyone spoke the same language when it came to product descriptions and specifications. This helped eliminate confusion and improve data accuracy.
“PIM drove the biggest data cleansing I’ve seen in my 18 years at Kingspan — technical documents were reduced from 13,000 to just over 2,000, from more than 6,000 active ones. We also no longer rely on a separate Excel file for each plant. Now, my day starts and ends with PIM instead of juggling 37 Excel sheets.” - Izabella Harmat, CEER PIM System Leader, Kingspan Insulated Panels
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Outcomes: Achieving data auditability, efficiency and compliance
Kingspan's product data management solution, powered by Stibo Systems Platform, has had a real impact across the organization. It shows the value of a robust and centralized PIM system.
Auditable data and clear ownership
The Stibo Systems Platform provided a single source of truth for product information, making it easier to track data, spot errors and ensure accuracy.
With clear data ownership established, individuals were accountable for the quality and completeness of the information they managed within the system. This increased both transparency and accountability.
"The PIM made our data auditable. It actually meant that people had to own the data they were editing or approving. People are responsible for what they're putting in the system." – Nikita Ticku, PIM Application Architect, Kingspan
Increased efficiency
By automating workflows and reducing manual data entry, Kingspan became a far more efficient organization.
- Error spotting became easier
- The cost of making changes decreased
- Countless hours were saved
All this freed up valuable time for employees to focus on more strategic tasks and being more productive and innovative.
Improved compliance
By standardizing data and processes on Stibo Systems Platform, it is now easier for Kingspan to comply with local regulations and industry standards across all 80 countries where it operates. The risk of non-compliance and penalties is far lower, and the company can maintain its good reputation.
“The Stibo Systems Platform simplifies compliance with regional laws, certifications, and labeling requirements, reducing risks and operational costs. This ensures efficient, consistent, and legally compliant product distribution worldwide.” - Martin Lindgaard Pedersen, Head of Digital, Kingspan Insulation
A foundation to build future initiatives on
A strong platform to manage product data is the perfect foundation for Kingspan's future digital initiatives. It gives it the centralized and reliable product data needed to support initiatives such as:
- BIM object integration
- Digital twins
- The EU's upcoming Digital Product Passport
This future-proofs Kingspan's data strategy and positions it as a leader in the digital transformation of the construction industry.
