Poli-Film doubles its business in two years on back of lean ERP

The company also claims to have eliminated manual processes, slashed inventory and created a lean manufacturing environment. Its former system made it impossible for Poli-Film to keep current data: indeed it also generated inaccurate information, resulting in production delays and product inconsistencies, particularly when working with its distribution sites around the US and Mexico. In the face of production cycle problems, Poli-Film sought an all-in-one solution, and went for the Visual system for its end-to-end production control facilities. Beyond seamless shop floor scheduling and better management information, the system enabled Poli-Film to develop what it describes as a “leaner-than-lean environment,” with the flexibility to customise parameters and adjust to the changing demands of its customer base. “Our material handling and shop-floor scheduling began occurring in real time,” comments Poli-Film president Geoff Davis. “That was a real improvement over managing data in batch files. And not only did Visual help improve our manufacturing process and allow us to become more customer-driven; the technology also supported our goal of doubling our business in two years.” Poli-Film says it has capitalised on this ERP system’s ability to build an internal structure to drive quality while streamlining the manufacturing environment’s business-process flows. And the proof of that, it says, is that with revenues growing and inventory expense declining, the company is now experiencing the success that lean manufacturing brings.