Industry Specialty chemicals
Core business areas Development, production, and distribution of lubricants and related specialty products
Annual revenue €3.5 billion (2025)
Employees Approx. 6,900 (2025)
Headquarters Mannheim, Germany
>80%
of direct global procurement spend covered by IntegrityNext assessments
80%
response rate for supplier self-assessments
>60
procurement staff leverage IntegrityNext data in decision-making processes
5
national due diligence and reporting laws complied with – supported by IntegrityNext
IntegrityNext helps us meet legal due diligence and reporting obligations across Australia, Canada, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom through a single platform. This significantly reduces complexity and ensures consistent supply chain management.
Erik Richter
Human Rights Officer & Sustainability Manager Procurement, FUCHS SE
How FUCHS Uses Our Platform
- Main applications
- Supply chain due diligence
- Integration into internal IT systems via Extended API
- Suppliers screened Over 2,300
- Suppliers subject to self-assessments Over 2,200
- Response rate for self-assessments 80%
FUCHS Goals We Support
Regulatory compliance
Ensure effective implementation of legal requirements, particularly the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG), alongside additional national regulations across global markets.
Digital due diligence process
Build a scalable approach that can be applied across decentralized structures to meet supply chain due diligence obligations.
Transparency on supplier risks
Ensure comprehensive visibility across the tier 1 supplier base through systematic risk analyses.
Data-driven decision-making
Provide a robust data foundation for reporting and group-wide decision-making processes.
Sustainability in procurement processes
Embed sustainability criteria into existing procurement workflows, including supplier onboarding.
Centralized access to risk data
Integrate relevant risk metrics into internal IT systems for cross-functional use.
Business Context
FUCHS is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of lubricants and related specialty products, serving industries such as automotive, mechanical engineering, metal processing, mining, and energy. Headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, the company operates in over 50 countries, with 38 production sites and 67 operating companies, offering a portfolio of more than 10,000 products.
The organization is highly decentralized, with procurement responsibilities largely managed at the regional level. At the same time, regulatory pressure is increasing, driven by frameworks such as the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and various national due diligence laws.
This created a fundamental challenge: The company required a group-wide, consistent, and legally compliant supply chain management framework without limiting the flexibility of local business units.
Against this backdrop, FUCHS set out to implement a responsible procurement model supported by a digital solution that:
- works globally while remaining adaptable to local contexts
- reliably meets regulatory requirements and can be expanded as needed
- identifies and prioritizes sustainability risks
- integrates seamlessly into existing processes and IT systems
- provides transparency on risks and progress made
- strengthens collaboration with suppliers
- ensures high supplier acceptance with minimal effort
FUCHS selected the IntegrityNext supply chain due diligence solution to achieve these objectives.
By integrating IntegrityNext analytics into our existing IT systems, sustainability and risk metrics are now available exactly where we need them. This makes it easier for relevant departments to use the data in decision-making and take targeted action where required.
Lisa Kuoy
Manager Supplier Quality Management, FUCHS LUBRICANTS GERMANY GmbH
Project Description
Key Stakeholders
The initial implementation of the project was led by procurement in close collaboration with other central functions:
- Procurement (global and regional): Overall responsibility for deployment and operational use
- Compliance: Supports adherence to regulatory requirements and reporting
- Supplier Quality Management: Integration of results into supplier evaluation processes
More than 60 users – primarily within procurement – access and actively use IntegrityNext data via integrated systems, for example during supplier qualification and negotiations.
Project implementation
The project focuses on the systematic identification and assessment of sustainability risks within the supply chain. Supplier engagement followed a phased approach:
- Initial prioritization of large and strategically relevant suppliers
- Launch of the first campaign with 200 suppliers after approximately four weeks
- Gradual rollout across the full supplier base, focusing on tier 1 suppliers
Scope of analysis:
- 2,300+ suppliers, including 69 subsidiaries and joint ventures, automatically screened for country and industry risks
- 2,200 suppliers selected and contacted for standardized self-assessments
- Focus areas: environmental protection, human and labor rights, occupational health and safety
In parallel, FUCHS developed an internal impact logic to prioritize risks based on procurement volume and strategic relevance.
IT Integration
A key success factor is the deep integration of IntegrityNext data into FUCHS’ existing IT landscape via an Extended API.
Integrated systems include:
- SharePoint: Data visualization and operational process management
- SRM system: Central platform for supplier onboarding and evaluation
- Power BI: Dashboards for in-depth analysis
Key features of the approach:
- Buyers do not work directly on the IntegrityNext platform but access data through internal systems
- FUCHS has developed a customized process logic which includes supplier action management via SharePoint
- IntegrityNext data is fully embedded in procurement workflows
- Supplier risk insights are combined with additional indicators, such as financial data, for holistic evaluation
Key Outcomes
Scalable Due Diligence Process
FUCHS has established a framework with IntegrityNext that combines regulatory compliance, risk transparency, and operational usability – ensuring both global standardization and local application. The solution is designed to scale alongside tightening requirements, additional topic areas, and new regulatory developments (e.g., CSDDD), forming a strong foundation for sustainable supply chain management.
Transparency Across the Tier 1 Supply Chain
FUCHS has met its central objective of gaining comprehensive insights into tier 1 supplier risks. Coverage of direct global procurement spend exceeds 80% and is even significantly higher in regions such as EMEA. With a self-assessment response rate of 80%, the company has achieved a robust and reliable basis for systematic risk identification and management.
Efficiency Through Automation and Prioritization
Automated risk analyses, standardized self-assessments, and centralized data accessibility enable scalable and streamlined processes. This reduces the operational workload for internal teams while ensuring that resources are focused where they matter most. At the same time, critical suppliers can be identified and prioritized in a targeted manner, supporting more effective risk mitigation.
Seamless IT Integration and Data Availability
IntegrityNext data is integrated into SharePoint, the SRM system, and Power BI via an Extended API, making it accessible across procurement, sustainability, and compliance functions. Buyers use the data for supplier onboarding, evaluations, and action management – strengthening collaboration and enabling efficient management of large supplier portfolios.
Broad Coverage of Regulatory Requirements
IntegrityNext helps FUCHS meet its due diligence and reporting obligations under the LkSG in Germany, the Transparency Act in Norway, and Modern Slavery Acts in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The company leverages a single central platform to address diverse regulatory requirements in parallel using a consistent and scalable approach.
With IntegrityNext, we systematically assess the sustainability risks of our global supplier base, achieving a coverage of more than 80%. This gives us the transparency we need to meet regulatory requirements and continuously improve internal processes.
Erik Richter
Human Rights Officer & Sustainability Manager Procurement, FUCHS SE
Future Outlook
FUCHS continues to advance risk management and the sustainable transformation of its supply chain with a clear strategic focus:
Preparation for Upcoming Regulatory Requirements
FUCHS is proactively aligning existing processes with emerging regulatory requirements, particularly the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). In anticipation of stricter expectations around transparency, documentation, and risk management, the company aims to ensure that its systems and processes can support these reliably and at scale.
Expansion of Supplier Engagement
The company intends to further strengthen supplier collaboration to drive measurable improvements beyond mere assessments. Future efforts will focus on deepening supplier dialogue and providing targeted support to help suppliers progressively meet required standards – guided by a consistent “support and challenge” approach.
Focus on Product-Related Requirements and Decarbonization
Product-related requirements are becoming increasingly important in supply chain management. As such, the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) is gaining relevance in the context of FUCHS’ net-zero strategy and will play a central role in supplier collaboration. At the same time, additional product- and substance-related compliance topics, such as PFAS, will be systematically addressed.
Strategic Use of Sustainability Data
FUCHS is further embedding sustainability and compliance data into reporting, decision-making, and cross-functional management processes – enhancing transparency and ensuring that sustainability and risk considerations become part of day-to-day operations across the organization.
Feeling Inspired by the FUCHS Success Story?
Talk to our team and see how IntegrityNext supports smarter, more sustainable supply chain management.
✔ Automate and optimize supplier sustainability assessments
✔ Integrate risk insights into internal systems and processes
✔ Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions