- Flexible and integrated support for all engineer-to-order operations
- Engineering, production and business team all work with the same information
- Job tracking, costing, reporting and reconciliation transformed
- Documentation faster and more efficient
The right tools for a very difficult job
1 min read
Bendalls Engineering designs and manufactures specialist steel fabrications, and assembles electro-mechanical equipment, for industries from petrochemicals to the nuclear sector. It's engineer-to-order, so design input is almost always the starting point, and management systems have to operate with few standard products or subassemblies, no BoM, no demand forecast etc.
With that in mind, Bendalls implemented a Syspro ERP system from McGuffie Brunton, and reports great success. Neil Murray, finance director: "Since the introduction of Syspro, jobs are just so much better 'hung together' as regards to everyone having easy access to information they need."
Now, for example, when an order is received, Syspro creates a job number and file without a BoM, and it's all accessible. The company has its own estimating system for pressure vessels, and quotes are now fed directly into ERP for ongoing reference. Similarly, while production drawings are being created in CAD, engineering can provide access for purchasing to incomplete parts lists for long lead-time materials. Further, as soon as bought-in items are received and passed by inspection, test certificates are cross-referenced to parts lists.
Tracking job costs and progress on a daily basis is also easy. "Previously, cost information was just not accessible in a format that was readily useable," explains Murray. "This modified WIP report has become a major part of our production control system, and typically forms the basis of production meetings. As soon as a project starts to go off track, we know about it and can take corrective action."
Further, by using the report's data to assess the progress of all ongoing jobs, production control can now readily determine present and future work load. Accessing the WIP module allows engineers to look at jobs, monitor inventory and track supplier lead times. Also, the purchasing module provides engineers with immediate access to order history, as well as an easy route to progress reports etc.
Finally, the preparation of accounts, and invoicing has become "more professional". Previously, cost information, product documents, test certificates and inspection reports were scattered about the company, and that could cause delays. Now, with all information accessible through a single data source, the preparation, validation and submission of all documentation at the end of a project is fast and efficient.
Key benefits
