Product category:
Enterprise Resource Planning software (ERP)
News Release from: K3 Business Technology Group | Subject: Syspro ERP
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 17 November 2006
Complete SME IT Service
Syspro ERP system provides improved responsiveness and faster product time to market benefits
Over the last ten years, specialist pump manufacturer Ernest Hill has undergone significant developments in order to maintain the competitiveness of its business and provide a launch pad for future growth One of the key business relationships over this period has been with McGuffie Brunton
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 17 Jan 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Today, McGuffie Brunton supports the smooth running of Ernest Hill's Syspro ERP software as well as supplying and managing the company's IT network infrastructure.
In addition, Visuality, McGuffie's new media and internet solutions subsidiary have helped Ernest Hill to exploit market and sales opportunities.
As a GBP2 million turnover SME, Ernest Hill has developed an extremely viable IT solution that has enabled them to employ one of the most modern ERP systems available, operate e-commerce websites and maintain worldwide communications without overstretching their resources.
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Established as an engineering and manufacturing company in 1841, the Sheffield based company has been involved in the innovation, design and manufacture of fluid transfer equipment for the past 165 years and employs 28 people.
It's large product range includes hand, air and electrically operated pumps and pump kits, along with oil, fuel and grease dispensers and auxiliary equipment for global 'blue-chip' customers.
Before employing Syspro's manufacturing and distribution modules, Ernest Hill's production and delivery record was 'not good'.
Now, instead of trying to make to order, the company has established a customise-to-order approach, producing generic sub assemblies to stock and then finish and brand to order.
Combined with immediate sales order visibility and effective inventory control / finished goods management, this now enables the company to successfully operate a 24-hour delivery service.
Having gained control over its production, Ernest Hill is more responsive and far more efficient.
By effectively employing Syspro's forecasting capabilities, daily MRP and the close management of sub assembly stock levels, the firm has eliminated the huge peaks and troughs of production loading that it used to face, without crushing the business under a huge finished goods mountain.
"We are also now extremely fast on our feet when it comes to getting new products and variants on the market," claims Dominic Hewins, Ernest Hill's Sales Director.
A link with the company's 3D CAD system means that structured Bill of Materials (BOMs) for new products can be transferred into Syspro, while design drawings and images can be quickly imported and attached to the item descriptions within the inventory database.
As a result, the company can design a new product, have the necessary information in the production system and be ready to manufacture the first order, all within 48 hours.
Overall, the long-term deployment of the ERP system within Ernest Hill has undoubtedly enabled the business to significantly improve its performance.
While increased efficiency is evident from the fact that turnover has been maintained - against extremely stiff foreign, low cost competition - these sales are now achieved with almost 50% of the people that were employed a decade ago.
However, the ERP system is only one part of the company's IT development and its wider relationship with McGuffie Brunton.
For example, Visuality has produced the company's main business website and portal and designed and built a full e-commerce site for the company's niche air rifle pumps market.
This new web site and orders from customers are all managed by Ernest Hill staff using Visuality's smartCMS website e-retail management system.
Furthermore, McGuffie Brunton has also taken over the management and support of the company's IT network.
Previously, the company directors undertook the task of keeping the network running, sorting problems and managing upgrades.
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