Strengthening process reliability through the automated inspection of maintenance documentation for the PUMA infantry fighting vehicle
PSM Projekt System & Management GmbH is a project company founded specifically for the PUMA infantry fighting vehicle project by KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG and Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH. PSM is responsible for the development, production and maintenance of the infantry fighting vehicle. The company uses the Konfuzio software from Helm & Nagel GmbH to log and track the necessary maintenance work and to optimize its own receivables management.
Background
The regular and correct maintenance of the PUMA fleet is ensured and documented by performance records. The resulting paper-based maintenance logs were previously processed manually. This manual recording of the relevant information from up to 50 documents per month, each with 65 pages, was time-consuming, error-prone and tied up valuable resources. An automated check of the maintenance records can eliminate this and at the same time ensure that the PUMA tanks are maintained in accordance with the specifications and are therefore fully operational for the Bundeswehr.
“With the Intelligent Document Processing Software Konfuzio from Helm & Nagel, we can automate the documentation of our maintenance work. This reduces the manual effort and the number of errors and thus ensures a considerable increase in efficiency in our workflow and claims management. We are very satisfied with the cooperation and the technical implementation of Konfuzio”
Martin Liebsch, PSM
Solution
PSM implemented the intelligent document processing software Konfuzio from Helm & Nagel GmbH. The solution automatically extracts all relevant data from the maintenance logs, such as the service location, date or duration, as well as the document and order numbers, and transfers these directly into Excel spreadsheets from PSM Projekt System & Management GmbH. This ensures that every service provided and maintenance carried out is reliably recorded. The extracted information is made available to the clerks in a low-threshold and intuitive way in a familiar format for further processing. After Konfuzio was implemented in 2024 and successfully used at PSM, the collaboration was expanded in 2025. The extraction and documentation process was fully automated and manual activities were further reduced.
Implementation (Q1, 2024):
Project start and adaptation of the AI to the specific requirements of PSM. Proof of concept with semi-automatic processing of the read-out data for validation and integration into the systems and process chains. Ongoing model training and continuous optimization of the readout quality.
Full automation (Q2, 2025):
Implementation of a fully automated solution with interface development and Excel integration. PSM was given complete autonomy with an Excel template that accesses the Konfuzio API and all the data obtained via Power Query at the touch of a button.
Extracted data:
- General information: Document ID, date, order, order number
- Service items: Service, service location, service duration, service entry sheet, quantity
Special features:
- Automatic validation with error marking
- Human-in-the-loop: Direct document link for manual improvement of AI
- Corrections in Konfuzio automatically update the data in Excel
- Intuitive operation: simply click „Update all“ to synchronize data
Result
The complete documentation of all maintenance work ensures that all services provided by PSM are actually recorded. The automated solution from Helm & Nagel GmbH therefore represents an enormous improvement in PSM Projekt System & Management GmbH's workflow and receivables management and ensures that all maintenance work carried out is billed in full. This optimization has enabled the company to minimize shortfalls and significantly increase the billing amount for the same amount of work performed.
The documentation also provides proof that the PUMA fleet is continuously and comprehensibly maintained. This is a key factor for the combat readiness of the Bundeswehr and the fulfillment of the defense mission. For the management, this also means guaranteeing contractual obligations to the Bundeswehr and meeting the highest quality and safety standards in the defense sector.
Operational successes:
- Fully automated check of all maintenance logs
- Automated processing of 50+ documents with up to 65 pages
- Several working days saved per month
- Precise AI-supported extraction with automatic validation
Strategic added value:
- Optimized workflow and receivables management: Complete billing of the services provided and maintenance carried out
- Ensuring operational readiness: Seamless maintenance documentation proves the Bundeswehr's combat readiness
- Minimization of external risks: Reduction of liability risks, recourse claims and insurance inquiries
- Compliance: Meeting the highest quality standards in the defense sector
- Scalability: Reusable template for further projects
Profile:
| Project start: | 2024 |
| Tools & features used: | Extraction AI: Konfuzio's machine learning approach to data extraction from consistent layouts. Categorization & Splitting: Konfuzio's machine learning approach for sorting out irrelevant pages so that only performance records are read. Data normalization: Normalization of the read values to create a consistent and high-quality data set. Data quality: Direct data validation in Excel to ensure data quality. DVUI & Human in the Loop: Intuitive user interface for manual check of the data. Display with link and direct linking of the values in Excel and Konfuzio. |
| Integrations: | REST API with MS Excel & Power Query |
| Extracted data: | General information: e.g: Document ID, date, order, order number Service items: e.g: Service, service location, service duration, service entry sheet, quantity |
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