Vendors of time and attendance and workforce management software tell a good tale when it comes to manufacturing business improvement, but what is the real value? Brian Tinham talks to enlightened manufacturers
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Shortlist 2011 is our annual reference directory of IT systems, software, ICT consultancy and service providers. Our objective in this special issue is to make your task of defining, finding and shortlisting IT suppliers as fast, easy and effective as possible.
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Time and attendance systems and others have been around for years, but smarter manufacturers are taking them to a new level. Brian Tinham looks at what’s working where
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They’re no longer just about clocking on and off: time and attendance systems can transform production improvement, says Simon Macpherson. Brian Tinham reports
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Often regarded as the poor relation in manufacturing systems, time and attendance software can do far more than simply improve labour utilisation – although at typically 15% with little effort, that alone is not to be sneezed at. But Racal Acoustics and KLM UK Engineering are among users that have turned their time and attendance data into production and even business insight. Indeed in the words of the latter: “It’s bringing in an awful lot of business.”
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Time and attendance software systems have evolved by leaps and bounds. While some manufacturers continue to use only the basic functionality, others have seen the bigger picture and are getting well ahead of the game.
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The working year is changing, but what's driving the change to annualised hours? And do you need more than IT to make it work?
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Manufacturers whose production is closely matched to customer demand are holding less inventory, showing better order performance, and slashing the order-to-cash cycle time, according to analyst AMR Research. And it is initiatives like lean thinking, advanced planning and scheduling (APS) and supply chain synchronization that are helping them to tune their resources and capacity to suit what the market wants when it wants it – while still keeping costs down
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Bespoke valves manufacturer Hydraulic Projects, based in Dawlish, Devon, expects to kiss goodbye to double entry keying, while ensuring data accuracy and reducing admin hours, when it goes live with an integrated ERP system. The company has gone for an Infor Visual ERP system, aimed at SME manufacturers wanting the Microsoft .Net environment. It also expects that system to substantially reduce its stock inventory
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Cooper-Avon Tyres in Wiltshire says it got return on investment from its scheduling software in just two days – by eliminating conflicts with engineering staff rotas. The firm runs 24/7 with 1,000 staff, and was finding paper-based scheduling impossible because of the need to rotate staff coverage
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Truck jams and failures of just in time (JIT) line-side delivery at the BMW 3 Series Munich Plant are now a thing of the past, thanks to an automated tracking and vehicle prioritising system that’s linked directly to the firm’s supplier management and ERP system
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Outsourcing is leading a move to increasing warehousing and distribution requirements. Howard Joseph, McGuffie Brunton's sales director, spells out the new requirements
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Sheffield-based Edward Pryor produces permanent marking
products, systems, software and services for non-paper materials – mostly metals, but in all sorts of applications. Recently, the firm has grown into high tech, specialist computer-controlled, machine-readable marking systems using laser, chemical etching, inkjet printing and 2D Data Matrix technologies for applications in, for example, aerospace.
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Bury St Edmonds-based sensors and transmitters maker Amot, which turns over £14m, is reaping the reward of a top-to-bottom manufacturing ERP implementation that's dealing with its need for mass customisation, while also managing the shopfloor and providing supply chain e-business support.
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If you haven't discovered it yet, you will: simply going live with an ERP system isn't going to bring home the bacon. Brian Tinham looks at what we should be doing next
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When Victoria Foods' entrepreneurial flair led to growth beyond the means of its existing systems to manage, its strategy was one of new packaged enterprise IT and integration. Brian Tinham reports
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In the second of our 2002 series on time and attendance systems, Annie Gregory looks at how linking T&A into production systems can pay back
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Sheet metal fabrication firm Laserform has survived tough economic times by investing in down to earth manufacturing IT. And now its house is in good order, the company says it’s looking forward to more profitable times. Dean Palmer reports
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Pharmacia and RJ Herbert have discovered, in very different ways, the value of extending T&A beyond simple time and attendance. Annie Gregory reports
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Time and attendance systems can provide a relatively simple and low cost way of getting into much more than better HR management. Geoff Lock talks to users about getting more sophisticated
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For manufacturers seeking a low cost route to making production efficiency improvements, integrating aspects of time and attendance with shopfloor and enterprise systems can be a good start. Geoff Lock explains.
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Moving electronic time and attendance systems way beyond their original purpose can be a low cost way of getting accurate manufacturing costing and better flexibility. Geoff Lock explains.
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Two years ago, Press Patterns was a tool and die maker with flailing profits and a shrinking order book. But over the last year, the company has managed to attract a host of new, high profile customers including Aston Martin and BMW. Dean Palmer roots out the secrets of its success.
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Return on what amounts to relatively low investment well within the year – and improvements in efficiency and customer service – are among promises of integrating time and attendance with enterprise systems. Dom Pancucci reports on success at David S Smith Corrugated.
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As a result of a new MAPICS software implementation and better working practices, SMS Technologies can now respond to customers’ orders more quickly, and has extra manufacturing capacity leftover for business growth.
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