KMF selects Epicor ERP for manufacturing subcontract operations

Keith Nicholl, business improvement manager at the £26m business, says the system will replace all existing software, and he also expects it to improve information visibility across the business. "Across our history, we have developed many discrete systems for managing the business and providing information, but have no reliable way of linking those systems together to increase the value of their output," says Nicholl. "Those systems are creaking under the weight of data. We need a solution that will get the right information to the right person, at the right time, with the minimum of effort," he explains. Like most make-to-order companies, one of the biggest challenges KMF faces is a lack of order pipeline visibility. Unless an order has been loaded into the manufacturing system it is invisible. However, Nicholl says that, using Epicor will give function owners much earlier visibility of customer requirements. He believes that, in turn, will create opportunities for greater efficiency right out to the supply chain, so helping to alleviate current manufacturing constraints. "As a make-to-order business, we are in a very dynamic environment, where it is difficult to predict what is happening tomorrow, never mind in two weeks time," states Nicholl. "Epicor is an excellent fit for us, in terms of its make-to-order capabilities – something many others systems we reviewed fell short on. We are also very impressed with the power and flexibility of its estimating features." With 31% growth in 2010/11 and ambitious growth plans for the next three years in new sectors, such as medical instrumentation and aerospace, KMF sees Epicor as future-proofing the business well into the next decade.