Product category:
ERP and MRP systems and software
News Release from: Infor | Subject: VISUAL Enterprise ERP software
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 August 2003
Roadshow helped moulder find an ERP
solution
Finding the right ERP system was seen as a lengthy, time-consuming and costly task until a plastics moulder attended an ERP Vendors Forum roadshow seminar and found an ideal solution.
Finding the right enterprise resource planning (ERP) system - a major investment for any size of manufacturing company - often becomes a lengthy, time-consuming and costly task Hi-Tech Mouldings, an award-winning GBP 9m turnover plastics injection-moulding manufacturer based in Hampshire, found an ideal solution to the issue: it attended an ERP Vendors Forum roadshow seminar and soon learnt about the best way of selecting and implementing an ERP system
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 21 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
ERP includes enhanced warehouse management system
Core architecture of an ERP with enhanced warehouse management system has been re-shaped around a modular business services bus to refine usability and to reduce implementation timescales.
Software puts fabrication shop into order
Manufacturer fabricates 60% of signs in house, using NC punching, drilling and folding machines, to which a suite of software has brought improved factory organisation.
This was seen as a valuable opportunity for the company as it provided a focused view and a comparison of what the perceived benefits of ERP could be from a range of vendors.
Using the knowledge gained, the company appointed a review team and shortlisted five candidate suppliers, including the four members of the forum.
After a rigorous and systematic evaluation, VISUAL Enterprise from Lilly Software Associates - a forum member - was selected and purchased by Hi- Tech Mouldings.
Further reading
Project management integrated inside ERP
A comprehensive project management function, fully integrated within an ERP system, was one of the prime reasons for purchasing an Infor COM ERP suite from Infor Global Solutions.
Customer relationship management enhances VISUAL
Lilly Software Associates announces the UK and European launch of a new customer relationship management module, VISUAL CRM, as an add-on for its VISUAL Manufacturing suite of software.
Quality module for "common sense" ERP system
Visual Manufacturing differs from other ERP systems in that it is founded on "common sense throughput" principles, which apply common sense to the technology used to solve manufacturers' problems.
The modular supply chain management system will replace a proliferation of fragmented and standalone IT resources the technical trade moulder has used over several years.
"The installation of an integrated ERP system represents a quantum leap for our business and we are all excited by the prospect of using it and gaining the benefits," said Richard Brown, Hi-Tech Moulding's sales director.
"We wanted to form a partnership with a supplier and implement a robust ERP solution that would, in a single system, seamlessly encompass all the different but vital functions in our line of business - from sales, through manufacturing to distribution.
We also wanted one that was easy to operate, allowing the whole company to use it productively and in a fulfilling way, thus making the best of the investment.
"Lilly and the VISUAL system met all these requirements.
In addition, being modular, the range of applications plus the system's scalability will enable us to expand the resource in line with ambitious business development plans." Above all, Brown said, "ERP is expected to help the company to continually improve its service to customers." Anticipated benefits - Hi-Tech Mouldings want the integrated Lilly Software system to facilitate the achievement of: higher productivity; better inter-company communications and knowledge sharing; timely availability of data to speed decision-making and measurement; and more streamlined business process management (BPM).
Other anticipated benefits will be less reliance on paper and more on automated, electronic documentation; for example, in the area of sales order processing and invoicing.
Estimating also is anticipated to be more accurate and easier to manage.
Drawings from CAD systems, including those from Hi-Tech Mouldings' customers and the company's two SDRC and Pro-Engineer CAD systems, will be made available to VISUAL Enterprise users.
This will make collaboration between design, engineering and manufacturing departments more accurate and productive.
In turn, it will lead to downstream benefits and an improved service to the customer.
Lilly Software Associates claims the above will be achieved, not least because the ERP application modules are tightly integrated around a central database, allowing data to flow freely throughout the networked business.
The system also features an easy-to-understand graphical user interface, which means that employees need not be experts to use the VISUAL applications and as a result far more value can be gained from the investment.
In addition to the comprehensive range of supply chain modules comprising the VISUAL toolset, Hi-Tech Mouldings purchased the customer relationship management (CRM) module and the VISUAL Quality module, both from Lilly Software.
The CRM package will allow other departments in the company to see all the details that sales personnel have discussed with the customer, making sure that each requirement is fully considered at the start of the contract and met at its conclusion.
The Quality module will allow the company to bring the benefits of its business-wide ISO 9001:2000 certification into the relationship with customers' projects as early as possible.
The courage to invest - supported by several prestigious awards, Hi-Tech Mouldings has earned a reputation for adopting best practice and setting high standards.
Investment in the ERP system has been made in a depressed economic climate, but Richard Brown believes this is the right time to do so.
He said: "The policy of the Hi-Technology Group, of which Hi-Tech Mouldings is a part, is to invest during hard times to be ready for upturns.
We believe in being leaders, not followers, so - from the top down - we have committed wholeheartedly to the new system from Lilly.
We expect it to make a great difference and enhance the capability of our company." The ERP purchase is part of a larger investment programme by Hi-Tech Mouldings.
Other purchases include a Bridgeport high-speed machining centre; a Demag 1100kN moulding machine (to complement an existing 2500kN asset); changes in the shop floor infrastructure and an increase in work centres.
About Hi-Tech Mouldings - the Hi-Technology Group consists of three companies, Hi-Tech Design, Hi- Tech Tooling and Hi-Tech Mouldings, all off which are based at Tyak House, Waterlooville, Hampshire.
Two local entrepreneurs Jamie Tisson and Gary Moore formed the company in 1983, initially as a tooling company.
Over the years the company under their leadership and guidance have added injection moulding (1986) and product design (1997) to the portfolio.
The group continues to grow with investment in training and new technology.
The company employs around 150 people, its main markets being the marine leisure industry, aircraft seating, health care, metering and defence.
In April 2002 Hi-Tech were awarded the ISO 9001:2000 accreditation The Company has been recognised in winning the Processor of the Year award 2001, Plastic Industry Sales and Marketing Award 2002, finalist in The New Business of the Year Award 2003 and was a finalist in the category of Processor of the Year in 2003.
• Infor: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
