Product category:
ERP and MRP systems and software
News Release from: K3 Business Technology Group | Subject: MFW Enterprise Resource Planning software
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 April 2003
System halves lead times, cuts
inventories
A sustained investment programme in computerised manufacturing management systems has halved manufacturing lead times, doubled the number of stock turns and cut headcount and inventory.
A sustained investment programme in computerised manufacturing management systems has resulted in British-owned aerospace company APPH reducing manufacturing lead times by half, doubling its number of stock turns and cutting headcount and inventory APPH has so far implemented K3 Business Technology's MFW Enterprise Resource Planning software in four of its eight sites in Britain and the US
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 29 Sep 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Aerospace Company Boosts Mfg Performance with MFW
APPH has so far implemented K3 Business Technology's MFW Enterprise Resource Planning software in four of its eight sites in Britain and the US.
Instrument Technology buys JobBOSS software
K3 Business Technology Group has won an order valued at GBP16,000 from the Chambers Division of Instrument Technology (ITL) for the JobBOSS computerised production control system.
The software handles the company's manufacturing requirements for both make-to-order for original equipment and make-to-stock for aircraft spares.
The company's services cover initial concept, design, qualification, manufacture and lifetime programme support.
Its products include landing gear systems, flight controls and hydraulic system assemblies for both civil and military aircraft, and filtration equipment.
Further reading
Assessment tool checks readiness for Lean
Supply Chain Assessment and Lean Evaluation System (SCALES) is a free assessment tool created to assess a company's readiness for adopting Lean Manufacturing techniques.
K3 to launch Lean manufacturing software at CIM
On stand 508 at CIM 2001, K3 Business Technology Group plc will be launching its Lean Manufacturing initiative.
ERP system selection guide is free
K3 Business Technology Group has published a free 16-page ERP System Selection for SME Manufacturers.
Almost every engine ever built by Rolls-Royce carries APPH filters.
The company's capabilities also include high precision machining and landing gear, wheel and brake repair and overhaul.
Cellular manufacturing techniques are used for the assembly and testing of all hydraulic equipment.
These include a clean-room environment for safety-critical assemblies and those that demand ultra-high precision.
Typical batch sizes range from one to 25.
The company has a turnover of circa $100 million and employs 480 staff.
APPH numbers the top aerospace companies in the world amongst its clients, and current programmes include flight control and landing gear systems for BAE Systems Hawk trainer, Alenia C27J military transporter, SAAB Gripen military fighter, and hydraulic systems for the Raytheon Hawker 800 business jet.
The company has received a number of awards for its continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives, including BAE Systems award for Supply Chain Excellence, and Investors in People.
In 1989 APPH identified a need for a flexible computer system for its Bolton site.
A key requirement was for a package solution rather than bespoke software; it also had to be cost effective, user-friendly and be operated without the use of computer specialists.
"We chose MFW," says APPH Managing Director David Haslam, "because it met all our selection criteria.
From our decision to buy until the final system implementation took six months, although we have almost halved this time with subsequent implementations at our other sites.
Timescales have to be very aggressive otherwise you tend to forget the original objectives, key people leave the company and, generally, the impetus is lost.
"In 1994, we expanded the system to our headquarters site with similar success.
As we were eager to embrace the growing benefits of Windows technology we were one of the first companies to adopt the MFW system in 1998.
We chose the Bolton site to lead this programme, which took us four months to implement.
We invested heavily in education and training, as we consider it essential that all employees take ownership of the system.
I also think active participation in the user group is essential for generating feedback and providing a discussion forum for system upgrades.
"At the Runcorn site we have several Linvar Paternoster automated storage machines for stock picking, which have been interfaced to MFW.
This has greatly increased the efficiency in part picking and stock management.
"This year we have also implemented MFW at TRAK, our high precision match grinding facility.
The system's production control module is particularly relevant for the company's multiple machining operations.
Our Airight subsidiary in the US is also implementing MFW by the end of 2002." K3 Business Technology's MFW is a 32 bit system comprising over 30 modules that grow together to provide a fully integrated ERP system on Windows and Windows NT platforms.
APPH sites typically use MFW modules such as sales and purchase order processing, inventory, bills of materials, MRP and financials.
The system caters for a wide variety of manufacturing environments.
APPH, for example, has a complex Bill of Materials: the average landing gear strut has 300 line items and over 1,000 for the complete landing gear system.
"The benefits of the system are numerous," says David Haslam."You must work smarter when you implement new computer systems.
MFW has helped to reduce manufacturing lead times, handle our material and parts traceability requirements, and has contributed to increasing our sales per employee ratio.
The control of inventory has been improved, resulting in lower inventory levels and increased turns" MFW has an open architecture and APPH uses its inbuilt Crystal report writer for standard management reporting, and the MS Access database for special reports.
The company is standardising its networking systems, and its hardware platforms are all NT.
A Group Intranet is used across the company and information can be exchanged between the various sites.
It is also linking its engineering systems.
APPH's design and stress engineers work as an integrated team on each project.
A good example of this is the programme for the Saab JAS 39 Gripen Advanced Combat Aircraft, where APPH designed, certified and manufactured the entire landing gear system including struts, actuators, the electro hydraulic selector and steering control valve.
Electronic data exchange is carried out between the Unigraphics and CATIA computer-aided design systems and the Patran and Abacus stress analysis programs.
In addition, the company is using digital document management and retrieval systems to facilitate a paperless environment.
"We are also planning to link our Unigraphics CAD and the IMAN product data management system to MFW," says Systems Manager Andy Treadwell.
"IMAN is a product lifecycle management system that stores product data and information and handles related changes.
The integration between IMAN and MFW is planned to be at the Bill of Materials level." David Haslam adds: "Our vision is to have state-of-the-art, integrated ERP and Engineering systems across the Group, with e-business links to our customers and suppliers on a global basis." He sums up the benefits of MFW in one sentence: "MFW is cost effective, user friendly, and has matched our system functionality expectations.".
• K3 Business Technology Group: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
