Product category:
ERP and MRP systems and software
News Release from: Rent-I.T. Systems | Subject: 123mrp.NET MRP software
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 July 2007
ERP system vetted and installed in three
weeks
Automotive trim manufacturer was able to evaluate an ERP system by sending staff on the five day training courses at no risk - no payment requested if the ERP was not liked.
Cobra UK Automotive produces products for the automotive interior trim market Customers like Volvo and Bentley insist Cobra holds high quality standards
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 16 Nov 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Cobra complies with TS16949 automotive quality accreditation, and has also won several local and national business achievement awards.
Their production management consisted of a series of spreadsheets, which although linked, proved problematic to maintain and were prone to human error.
Said Nick English, operations director at Cobra's Welshpool, Wales, plant , said: "We looked at various MRP and ERP systems costing up to GBP 80,000".
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"Our aim was to select one that was best suited to a company with high growth plans.
We were introduced to 123mrp.NET by our local Business Link office, which held an Evaluation Workshop in July 2006, whereby attendees could see whether 123mrp.NET would suit their business.
We were very impressed with what it offered, but were also quite sceptical.
The offer of only paying for the training if we took up the system seemed to be too good to be true - we were looking for the catch, but actually there isn't one".
With a factory move planned for early 2007, Cobra made a decision to select 123mrp.NET in November, with two staff attending the five day training courses.
Nick commented; "The training courses are very good at showing you how to apply the system in general.
You are given a generic implementation plan which covers all of the major pitfalls.
Although we still have to make it fit our business as long as you follow the plan, 9 times out of 10 it's going to work for you." The last day of training was on December 13, 2006.
Cobra planned to implement the system over the Christmas break to minimise down time.
Added English: "Although Rent IT provided support facilities over the break we didn't need to use them.
We just followed the implementation plan and went live on 2nd January without a hitch." Cobra went live across all departments simultaneously, with the exception of Quotes, which was a commercial decision taken by the company owing to the number quotes generated and methods used to generate them.
Cobra noticed immediately the visibility of works orders throughout the business, along with accuracy of stock amounts and values.
English said: "We could see the purchase orders that needed to be raised and could prioritise the work through the factory much better rather than relying on memory.
As we manufacture to order we don't hold much stock, so as long as lead-times are accurate and we purchase on time we can maintain a low stock amount.
The traceability that 123mrp.NET provides also helps us to comply with our quality standards".
* Paperwork reduced - the amount of paperwork being generated also reduced, as stock, purchases and works orders were all on the one system allowing for immediate reconciliation.
General errors were also reduced, which English attributed to 123mrp.NET's user interface.
He said: "Whereas before there were several Excel spreadsheets, all with the possibility of error, with 123mrp.NET there are not a lot of icons on the screen - you are limited to what you need to do on each individual screen".
* System expansion - Cobra plans to add more licenses in 2007 as the business expands.
English concluded: "123mrp.NET gave us what we needed as a business.
The day to day purchases can be handled by the Production department allowing our Purchasing Manager to concentrate on supplier development and purchasing strategy.
With the business expected to double each year for the next two to three years the flexible licensing of 123mrp.NET plays a big part as we can bring in licenses as and when you need them.
The beauty of it is that you don't have a large up-front cost burden at the start of the implementation when you have the greatest risk of failure".
Benefits achieved with 123mrp.NET are as follows.
* Implemented the system in just over two weeks.
* No support calls during implementation process.
* Recommended by local Business Link office.
* Chosen over ERP systems costing up to GBP 80,000.
* Could 'walk away' after training at no cost if unsuitable.
* Improved traceability helps Cobra to comply with TS16949 automotive quality standard.
* Reduction in errors due to intelligent user interface.
* Scalable license rental allows the company to increase or decrease licenses as required.
* Significant reduction in paperwork due to consolidation of orders/invoices and electronic documentation.
* Total implementation cost of GBP 2850 (two staff trained).
* Low monthly rental fee of GBP 300.
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