MAC² - Upcycling of maritime waste streams
Leader in maritime waste stream recycling prepares for significant growth
You could call MAC² a Silent Champion. Silent, because less known to the general public. Champion, because of the pioneering work this Antwerp-based company is doing.
Closing the Circle
Among other things, MAC² recycles oily waste streams from maritime and industrial sectors so that they can be reused, as new raw materials.
In doing so, MAC² fully endorses from the Port of Antwerp the mission of parent company Group Machiels: Closing the Circle. Group Machiels is active worldwide in renewable energy, environmental management and sustainable real estate projects.
Upcycling of maritime waste
MAC² operates from the heart of the Port of Antwerp and offers services for managing and processing waste streams for the ports of Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge:
- Collection and upcycling of oily wastes on ships (marine and inland);
- Maritime waste collection and processing;
- Processing of oil and water mixtures from industrial cleaning;
- Cleaning of trucks, tankers and tanks, by land, sea and rail;
- Purification and recycling of cleaning water.
From patchwork to an integrated ERP solution
The ambition to grow substantially got MAC² into its genes through its parent company.
Management found ways to accelerate this growth in more turnover, more customers and more services. But it was also decided to fine-tune the internal organization, especially in the area of systems. A patchwork of applications was to be converted into a single integrated solution that would seamlessly link services and processes system by system and support consolidated reporting.
Intercompany Reverse Supply Chain in an ERP
The combination of waste and recycling processes, yard and dock management, customs regulation and intercompany makes MAC² very specific, perhaps even unique. MAC² sought a solution that could reflect that uniqueness in it:
- Waste handling as a "reverse" production flow: waste can be sold with added value after recycling and upcycling, while disposing of (residual) waste can also generate a cost;
- Planning that is subject to enormous flexibility (e.g. Strict dwell times of ships can suddenly change due to external factors: a rising storm, a ship that cannot or may not dock;
- Not only the waste flows, the customer or agent, but also the vessel on which services are provided must be identified;
- MAC²'s status as a Port Reception Company, which means there is a lot of extra interaction between MAC² and external stakeholder such as the Port of Antwerp-Bruges;
- The many certificates and necessary tracking within waste processing;
- An extensive network of partners and external stakeholders with whom administrative interaction is required, such as the Antwerp Port Authority, customs, waste processors, transport companies, etc.
- The intercompany transactions between the different MAC² entities.
Partnering with Mentor and Men
MAC² engaged Mentor and Men to guide and manage vendor selection from A to Z.
MAC²'s Business Process Owners drew out the company's specific ways of working. They mapped out the critical aspects specific to MAC² for each process. This formed the basis for the Request For Proposal (RFP), the specifications.
With the greatest care for the specificity of the business, the consultants did a thorough market research to find those partners who could offer the best possible solution based on Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, a choice of Group Machiels. That could be one industry-specific solution in waste management, a supplement with certified add-ons or with custom solutions.
About six potential partners were invited for introductions and an assessment for fit-for-purpose. After that initial assessment, the team invited three partners to design a complete response to the RFP.
After thorough objective analysis of each of those proposed solutions and based on the selection criteria, the final partner was selected.
"The search for an integrated solution also allowed us to define processes, roles and responsibilities much more sharply. That puts us in a stronger starting position",
Sandra de Kroes, Financial Manager MAC²
MAC² is poised to trade in its patchwork of systems for a single integrated solution.
This change will add tremendous value offer. Employees working for different departments are going to understand each other's needs faster and better, they will speak the same language and be able to share schedules smoothly. The paper file will be banished. The system will serve as a single source of truth within MAC² and enable uniform management reporting.
Mentor and Men is further assisting MAC² in the process analysis and implementation.
