British Bakels rolls out integrated ERP

The company has gone for a £236,000 Axapta ERP system from Microsoft Business Solutions to look after logistics, accounting, production and warehouse management. The system is being implemented by Microsoft VAR Index in the form of a 40-user license, hardware and 170 man-days of implementation. Ade Abass, British Bakels financial controller, says: “Axapta will provide employees across the company with accurate, up-to-the-minute information on how our business is performing. “Our previous system gave very little information to manufacturing, but we will be able to bring process sheets, inventory management of raw material and finished goods, production scheduling, label printing and quality control all under much greater control.” The old ‘system’ comprised some 3,000 programs written in three different programming languages over a 15 year period. Abass: “It had become abundantly clear that our IT infrastructure was no longer adequate for the demands of our business. The lack of integration between our bespoke solutions caused difficulties in both warehouse management and product traceability. “It also meant that end user reporting was ‘challenging’. Combined with the high maintenance cost of such a personalised solution, these difficulties led us to seek an application that could integrate all areas of our business.” With the new system in place, he want to review business processes in light of modern functionality and integration. In particular, Abass is looking for better communication of everything from plans and process instructions to deliver benefits.