Product category:
Simulation, modelling and validation software
News Release from: Manusoft UK | Subject: Dynamic Resource Control (DRC) software
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 04 July 2002
Software aids productivity and
profitability
Just six months after installing Manusoft's Dynamic Resource Control (DRC) software, Saren Engineering has reported a considerable improvement in productivity and profitability.
Just six months after installing Manusoft's Dynamic Resource Control (DRC) software, Birmingham-based manufacturer Saren Engineering has reported a considerable improvement in productivity and profitability A metal pressing company serving a wide range of industry sectors throughout the UK, Saren Engineering recognised the need for a real-time software solution for planning, monitoring and controlling production when its manual DOS-based system became increasingly difficult to maintain
While Saren Engineering's old system could generate stock records and offer a degree of structure to work, the information it provided was extremely limited and a lot of time was wasted performing calculations and inputting data.
"With the old system we were putting more into it than we were getting out", says Mike Eager, Managing Director of Saren Engineering.
"We wanted a system that would not only help us to schedule work more efficiently but would support our entire operation from customer quotations to on-time delivery".
Many of the software companies Eager approached with regards to supplying a solution were unable to help unless Saren Engineering upgraded all of its hardware.
Manusoft, however, were able to provide a bespoke software solution that, with the exception of a single touch-screen terminal on the shop floor, operated on Saren Engineering's existing hardware; saving the company at least GBP 10,000.
"The vast majority of software companies produce software for a wide range of applications, the beauty of Manusoft is that its resource control software is designed specifically for manufacturing operations", explains Eager.
"Manusoft understood our needs and we could communicate with them very easily".
Manusoft worked closely with Saren Engineering to deliver a software solution that met its criteria exactly.
Accessed by operators on the shopfloor via a touch screen and by management on a back-office PC, the DRC software features functions including customer quotations, efficient production scheduling, on-time delivery, cost control and monitoring of labour efficiency rates.
"The way we monitor efficiency rates has changed completely", says Eager.
"The new system will let me know the amount of materials being used on a particular job and how long the job takes.
We output this information into another file and can easily calculate bonuses.
"Monitoring labour efficiency is not just useful for management information, it is also valuable to operators on the shop floor.
If the operators don't know how well they are performing, if I don't give them any feedback, then they can't perform at their best.
The Manusoft system is perfect for building incentive schemes around and for identifying areas where efficiency could be increased".
In addition, the Manusoft system allows Saren Engineering to produce a selection of detailed reports including customer order information and daily stock reports, quickly and easily.
"It's the perfect tool for supply chain communication and for keeping an eye on production", says Eager.
"All I have to do is log on and I can see at a glance exactly what is being produced at that time, what stage a customer's order is at and what materials are being used.
It provides me with a window on my business that, now, I couldn't do without".
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