Planning software slips down a treat at St Austell Brewery

The company is implementing Paragon Multi Depot to help streamline and optimise delivery planning, and is now building a single super distribution centre in St Columb Major, relegating the other depots to use during peak demand. Mike Voyzey, logistics director at St Austell, says the result will be better customer service levels and reduced operational costs. Go-live is scheduled for autumn 2009. During implementation, he explains that the brewery is using the software to model optimised routes, running it alongside the existing manual system. With Paragon modelling the best routes, adjustments can be made to the manual system and Voyzey says improvements are already being seen. “We have great expectations of Paragon and it will help us to make huge improvements as we go through implementation. Then we can look forward to switching to full automation once we have all the parameters in place, which should be at the end of the second quarter 2009,” says Voyzey. “Paragon is undoubtedly the market leader. The company has a high profile at logistics events and has a wide range of customers, including other brewers. We are very pleased with the progress we are making and the Paragon team is doing everything we ask,” he adds.