Software controls ordering and invoicing

Without PSL Datatrack software, a plastics machining subcontractor said that ordering and invoicing for large varieties in batch produced components would have been very difficult.

Subcontract plastics machining company, Plastic Turned Parts said that processing ordering and invoicing of a wide variety of machined plastics parts in many different batch sizes would now have been virtually impossible without using PSL Datatrack software.

Before the subcontracting business began to grow, Plastic Turned Parts (PTP) carried out the processing of orders, quotes, invoices and receipts manually using standard templates.

"But it did not look professional," said director of PTP, Jonathan Newis, "And the amount of work and its variety were building up steadily".

Newis told manufacturingtalk that he found himself increasingly involved in laborious administration work.

Apparently PTP had looked at a number of manufacturing IT options.

Newis said that he had had had some experience with Match.IT, but a colleague had recommended PSL Datatrack.

Compared with his experience of other systems, Newis was very keen about PSL Datatrack's Sales Module and its ease of use, and so the module was soon integrated into PTP.

The module covers the following.

* Quotations.

* Job costings.

* Works orders.

* Component stocks.

* Deliveries.

* Invoicing.

* Company details, such as cost centres and process layouts.

Newis said: "Printing off a delivery note, for example, is now very easy, and one just adjusts the quote if there are any customer changes to the jobs." He added: "PSL Datatack is much more user friendly than other software, everything about it is better".

* Works orders - for example, a works order is issued when the materials arrive.

Scheduling at PTP is still a manual system - as there are only four or five machine tools involved.

Once the schedule is made up, a drawing is issued, plus 'T-card' and drawing number, with materials quantities.

Newis believed that if his machine tool park rose to ten machines, then he would need to add on a PSL Datatrack scheduling module.

Located in Watton at Stone, Herts, UK, PTP operates CNC automatic fixed head and sliding head automatic lathes, a CNC milling machine and other machine tools to machine many varieties of mostly small plastics components.

Batch sizes can range from below 100-off to over 1000.

Materials vary widely too, including Nylons, acetol, Delryn, polyesters, PEEK, PTFE and, occasionally, polyamides.

Newis has an extensive plastics materials background, so he took the opportunity to acquire machine tools from a former machine shop to set up a new family subcontract plastics machining business.

He said that he saw a profitable niche, as many existing OEMs and metals machining subcontractors did not want to mix plastics machining with a metal working activity.

Newis acquired a Citizen L16 with an IEMCA bar feeder, a Daewoo Linx 200 with a Hydrafeed bar feeder, a cam-driven Swiss automatic and various other manually operated machine tools.

* Purchasing module - shortly after introducing the PSL Datatrack Sales Module, Newis added on the Purchasing Module.

It covers purchase orders, goods received and materials and components stocks.

PTP is now involving the Purchasing Module on materials stockholding and materials call-up to the machine shop.

Newis added that PTP was very early into gaining ISO 9000 accreditation.

"A potential customer had told us that we had to acquire ISO 9000 to gain the work to machine a range of medical ear grommets".

"We did so within six weeks".

* Traceability - with the two PSL Datatrack modules, PTP can now readily cover all traceability requirements and readily prints out detailed labels.

Apart from scheduling, Newis said that if all the other administration work covered by the two PSL Datatrack Modules had to be done manually, the time involved would be 'astronomical'.

Newis commented: "We have had PSL Datatrack on board virtually since the start of the company three years ago".

"Without it, we would have had more hassle on quotes when trying to give a quick price".

He added: "We would not have had such a great turnaround of enquiries - a fast response on quotes generates a lot of business.

To be able to give a fast price on the same, or next day, makes the company appear very efficient.

Also, with all our paperwork having an identical 'house style' through PSL Datatrack, it gives potential customers an impression of our professionalism".

Newis concluded: "PSL Datatrack makes efficiency.

All our paperwork corresponds from quotations right through to invoicing, all are in identical format.

The modules are simple to talk someone through it, you just have to input the right information and they do the maths".

* Company expansion - PTP is continuing to expand.

In its first year (2004-5), it added on a Haas Automation TM1 CNC toolroom miller for 3-axis machining.

Jonathan Newis said the company also added on a second Daewoo Linx 220 with a Multifeed bar feeder, having liked the Linx 200 so much.

Latest acquisition is a Star SR32 CNC automatic lathe with an FMB Turbo bar feeder.

Installed in May 2007.

PTP intends adding on another CNC automatic lathe in the near future.

PTP employs two setter/operators, a part-time machine operator and one administrator.

As well as machining, the company operates efficient weighing, inspection and bagging facilities (http://www.plasticturnedparts.co.uk).

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