What distinguishes successful companies from less successful ones is their ability to adapt as the world around them changes. Alvenius Industrier had reached a point where modernization was necessary to remain relevant to its customers. Johan Leiker, then newly appointed CEO, explains:
“We manufacture pipes from Swedish steel supplied by SSAB, which means we are not the lowest-cost supplier in the world. That is why we need to be highly efficient and offer an attractive customer proposition that includes everything from expertise and pipe solutions to technical service, repurchasing, and renovation of used pipes,” says Johan, continuing:
“This meant we needed to change our traditional way of working. We needed an effective tool to monitor business performance and track company progress in a simple and transparent way. That is how we came across the CANEA ONE management system and CANEA’s consulting services.”
The Choice of CANEA
Tommy Karlsson was hired as Quality Manager at Alvenius. He quickly realized that the existing management system – consisting of folders on a server and in SharePoint, along with Word and Excel files scattered across the organization – did not provide the business overview he was looking for.
“We needed a more efficient management system that could give us a consolidated overview by collecting and presenting all relevant information,” says Tommy.
He initiated a thorough evaluation of around a dozen IT solutions from as many suppliers. It took nearly a year to find the system that best suited Alvenius.
“It was the complete package – the ‘ONE’ in CANEA ONE – that tipped the scales in CANEA’s favor. In addition, the system was highly configurable.
“Many in the project group were drawn to visually appealing systems with attractive dashboards where everything looked clear and ready-made. But when we asked whether changes could be made, it turned out to be far more complicated. Customization was possible, of course, but it quickly became complex.”
Alvenius decided early on to purchase all modules, including CANEA ONE Open API, since they lacked reliable systems for much of the required functionality.
The Pieces Start to Fall into Place
Alvenius aimed to transition from being a pipe manufacturer to becoming a provider of advanced pipe solutions – a shift affecting large parts of the organization.
“In the past three years, we have taken a major step forward, including hiring a system designer and dedicating a resource to certifications and approvals. That is somewhat unique for a company with only 60 employees,” says Tommy.
Repositioning in the market from pipe manufacturer to knowledge-driven solution provider requires more than strategy alone. It requires clarity across the organization. Everyone must understand the company’s direction and their individual contribution. This is exactly where a digital strategy makes a difference.
“We were not effectively communicating our direction internally. We also struggled to follow up on investments and initiatives because we had not linked metrics to desired outcomes. There was no clear thread connecting investments to results,” says Tommy.
In other words, Alvenius needed guidance on how to enter the desired market segment. That is where CANEA’s management consultant Karl Hedman became involved.
“They had a solid business plan, but it was not as dynamic as they wanted. It was also difficult for each department to understand how their actions contributed to the overall strategy.
“There was no clear connection between the overall strategy and each department’s investments and initiatives,” Karl recalls.
“When breaking down goals, you can either define deliverables for each department or use an Objectives and Key Results (OKR) framework with a more flexible approach. Overall goals related to direction and profit margin may translate into reduced inventory, lower write-offs, and higher capital turnover in one department – and something entirely different in another.”
The Strategy Comes to Life
During a meeting in the spring, Karl began to see tangible results from the digitalized strategy.
“They displayed the CANEA Strategy Scorecard for the entire company at the top of the page. From there, we drilled down into key metrics and outcomes at both group and department levels. We also reviewed cases in CANEA Workflow that were linked to performance indicators that did not meet target levels.”
Tommy has also reflected on the difference compared to the past:
“Quite often, during management meetings, when someone asks how something is progressing and I pull up a dashboard, I think, ‘This is something we simply could not see before.’
“Previously, information was scattered and difficult to access. With CANEA ONE, we can now connect everything in a structured way. When a metric falls outside the desired range, we can immediately link it to an activity or project and track its development.”
He continues:
“When auditors reviewing us against ISO 9001 previously asked about goal breakdown and follow-up, we struggled to find relevant documentation. Now everything is structured within a coherent system.
“As the overall system owner of CANEA ONE, I appreciate having an IT tool that supports all aspects of the standard’s requirements. It is clear that the system was designed by professionals with deep knowledge of ISO 9001 and its underlying principles,” Tommy concludes.
Alvenius Industrier 2.0
After just one year, the benefits of the digital strategy became evident. With the CANEA Strategy module, Alvenius has translated strategic initiatives into department-level business plans. Each department now clearly understands its contribution to company-wide objectives.
For example, the sales department knows which initiatives are critical for achieving overall targets. At the same time, daily operational management has become more structured and data-driven.
“We have gained stronger operational control, which has increased our confidence. With CANEA Strategy, we can clearly visualize performance and direction, giving the entire management team a shared basis for decision-making,” says Johan.
“In the long term, we plan to use CANEA ONE to communicate progress to all employees. It is a comprehensive system that has truly supported our development.
“It has been a long journey, but thanks to strong support from CANEA, our IT-skilled employees, and tools such as CANEA Open API, we now have a robust foundation to build on.”
Summary and the Future
Alvenius continues to evolve. One of the key reasons for choosing CANEA ONE was its configurability. The company has leveraged this flexibility to further develop and refine system functionality internally.
“For example, we want better visibility into energy consumption, profitability, capital tied up, and progress toward our strategic goals. CANEA ONE provides an excellent platform for this,” Johan concludes.
Today, Alvenius has full control over processes and goal tracking. With CANEA ONE as its foundation, the company can make smarter decisions, increase transparency, and continue to grow with a focus on quality and customer value.
Alvenius’ transformation from a traditional pipe manufacturer to a modern, data-driven knowledge company demonstrates the impact of combining a clear strategy with a powerful digital platform.
About Alvenius Industrier
AB Alvenius Industrier is a traditional Swedish engineering company based in Eskilstuna. It manufactures spiral-welded, pressure-rated, corrosion-resistant, low-friction pipes made from Swedish steel.
Its pipe systems are used in demanding environments such as mines and tunnels, as well as in firefighting and water supply applications.
The company has approximately 60 employees and annual revenue of SEK 250 million.
