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As a driving force in industrial image processing, IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH develops and manufactures its cameras entirely at its German location. Through close collaboration with leading sensor manufacturers such as Sony, IDS integrates innovative sensor technologies early and offers a particularly broad camera portfolio. With such a complex product (300 to 400 electronic components per assembly), supply reliability is the most important metric in the company.
"We have to be able to deliver. That is our most important priority."
Ralf Vogelmann, Head of Procurement, IDS
Starting point: Proven processes, new market realities
When the electronics market came under pressure around four years ago through allocations and long lead times, IDS, like many manufacturers, faced the question of how to manage component risks more systematically. The existing workflow had served the company well until then. Bills of materials were processed in Excel, purchasing checked prices and lifecycles, and the team had built up long-standing supplier relationships. The new market conditions, however, called for more speed, more transparency, and a broader data foundation.
A personnel change in electronics purchasing gave the additional impetus to rethink the process from the ground up. Ralf Vogelmann took over as Head of Procurement and actively looked for ways to digitalise component management and set it up scalably for the future.
Alongside its standard portfolio, IDS also offers custom cameras. For these, project leads need fast price indications. In the past, these were calculated based on experience. A workable method, but one that increasingly reached its limits as market volatility grew.
IDS had Silicon Expert already in use to manage compliance and obsolescence topics. A powerful tool, but separated from the day-to-day procurement and development process. Two logins and two data sets were not the fastest route for developers, who need to switch quickly between component selection and compliance check.
"Developers mostly don't want to look into two systems. They just want to know whether the component fits."
Ralf Vogelmann, Head of Procurement, IDS
The decision: carefully weighed, backed across teams
IDS had had Luminovo on its radar for some time. The tool had come into focus through EMS partner BMK, and an initial meeting with the Luminovo team on site in Obersulm gave a clear impression. The time for a decision was not yet right. IDS wanted to make the move at the right moment and with full backing from the development team.
In summer 2025, the topic was back at the top of the agenda. IDS brought development and purchasing to the table together from the start. The platform was expected to cover the entire component lifecycle, from selection through procurement, not just the isolated tasks of a single team.
What ultimately tipped the balance for the commitment was the integration of Silicon Expert into the Luminovo platform. What had previously been managed in two systems could now be accessed from a single source: compliance data, obsolescence information, and component availability. Two tools became one strategic platform for development, purchasing, and compliance.
"Integrating all relevant information onto a single platform gives us a decisive competitive advantage today. Given the permanently changed availability situation in the market, the resulting added value for our company is enormous."
Ralf Vogelmann, Head of Procurement, IDS
What has changed: one platform for development, purchasing, and compliance
Today, IDS uploads bills of materials directly into Luminovo. Availability, lifecycle status, compliance assessment, and prices are displayed for each component in real time. Through the SAP integration, the team also sees its own inventory levels and can compare these directly with current distributor prices.
For new developments and custom projects, this pays off. When a customer requests an adjustment, IDS checks the modified assembly immediately in Luminovo. Prices, risks, and compliance status are available within minutes.
Silicon Expert inside the platform is a key lever here. Compliance inquiries from customers, for example about the REACH status of a camera, are answered today directly within the platform. The compliance team has immediate access to the latest information.
"Since we started using Silicon Expert through Luminovo, I feel much more confident. We are no longer caught out by component obsolescence and can react in time."
Ralf Vogelmann, Head of Procurement, IDS
The biggest change is strategic. IDS makes component decisions today on a broad data foundation. The team places last-time-buys more deliberately, plans inventory to the end of a camera family's lifecycle, and keeps redesign decisions as a conscious strategic option.
Before and after
| Aspect | Before | With Luminovo |
|---|---|---|
| BOM analysis | Detailed manual review in Excel | Automated real-time analysis |
| Component status | Experience and targeted individual research | Availability, lifecycle, and compliance at a glance |
| Compliance (REACH, RoHS) | Separate tool (Silicon Expert), manual reconciliation | Directly integrated in the platform |
| System landscape | Two specialised tools | One integrated platform |
| Cross-functional collaboration | Coordination via email and chat | Development, purchasing, and compliance on one data foundation |
| Custom projects | Experience-based price estimates with follow-up review | Real-time validation during the adjustment itself |
| Obsolescence management | Handling PCNs as they arrived | Proactive risk assessment with Silicon Expert |
How IDS customers benefit
For IDS customers in medical technology, industrial automation, and safety technology, the switch to Luminovo shows first in response time. Compliance inquiries that used to require several days of research are now answered within the same response round. This matters more with every new REACH update, as regulatory requirements continue to grow.
Custom adjustments benefit too. When IDS modifies an assembly for a customer, the team can report back within minutes on expected prices and availabilities. Previously, this process took several days and drew on experience-based estimates.
The third benefit concerns supply reliability itself. With better component data and proactive obsolescence monitoring, IDS can spot fluctuations in the electronics supply chain earlier and take countermeasures. For critical components, the team places long-term orders up to eighteen months in advance to secure customer supply.
"You only win customers when you can deliver fastest."
Ralf Vogelmann, Head of Procurement, IDS
Outlook: one platform for the entire electronics organisation
The next step for IDS is broader internal adoption of Luminovo. A joint workshop with the compliance team, development, and purchasing is planned for July. The goal: to bring everyone to the same level of knowledge and integrate the platform fully into everyday development work.
In the longer term, Ralf Vogelmann sees potential in having developers work directly in Luminovo. They can check compliance status and availability before handing an assembly over to purchasing. That shifts risk management from reaction to prevention.
"Transparency, finally. Everyone can look in. When all departments work on the platform, we get better and faster results, and fewer problems come up."
Ralf Vogelmann, Head of Procurement, IDS
Key takeaways
IDS brings component data, compliance status, and availability into a central platform. Development, purchasing, and compliance work with the same information from the first BOM upload onwards.
The integration of Silicon Expert into Luminovo was one of the decisive reasons for the decision. Where IDS previously used two specialised tools, compliance data (REACH, RoHS) and lifecycle information are now directly available in the procurement and development environment.
From experience-based estimates to real-time checks: manual Excel assessments have been complemented by live component data. The team makes decisions on last-time-buys, redesigns, and inventory levels today on a broad data foundation.
