How IRIS Enterprise Software helped Daher
Sawley gain visibility of their supply chain. Say 'packaging' and
what springs to mind? Boxes, certainly. Masking tape? Bubble
wrap?
In short, nothing particularly out of the ordinary. Of course
that all changes when you take into consideration what it is that
has to be 'packaged' - a consideration which is certainly foremost
in Daher Sawley's mind.
Daher Sawley is the market leader in specialist packaging for
the military, aerospace and high technology equipment manufacturers
and industries. To that end, its specialist packaging service
encompasses aircraft engines and parts, machine tools, dangerous
goods, vehicle spares, castings and forgings, any of which could
weigh up to 30 tonnes in weight, to the required packing standards
which could be company specific, MoD, IATA and International
Standards.
In addition, Daher Sawley also offers the manufacture and
supply of cartons, heavy-duty fibreboard containers and timber or
plywood cases and the preservation, treatment and packing of spares
and equipment. Then there are worldwide packaging, freighting and
logistics solutions. "To say that the nature of our work is varied
is an understatement," said Ian Davie, Senior Business Manager at
Daher Sawley. "What we deal with ranges from small, but very high
value, compressor and turbine blades, to painting and packing tank
engines, through to dangerous goods chemicals."
"However, whatever the size, it's all mission-critical. It's
therefore vital that we have visibility of the internal supply
chain, not just in terms of the physical components and parts, but
also the corresponding paperwork." The company used to rely on Sage
Line 100, but the software soon outgrew its function. What Daher
Sawley really needed was something that Sage was not able to
provide. What was required was not 'just' an accounting package,
but rather, an enterprise-wide information management
solution.
The chosen software had to fit several criteria. It had to be
flexible, robust and fast. It also had to be easy to use, and
require the minimum of training. Above all, it had to operate
across a myriad of different internal company processes -
refurbishment, sales and processing, record keeping, warranties,
stock checks, management reporting, to name just a few.
The decision was made to take on Exchequer from IRIS Enterprise Software. Of course
the story doesn't end there. Daher Sawley was clear about its
requirements. However, the company was all too aware of the perils
of falling for the 'sales patter'. In order to make sure that
the software could achieve what it promised, Exchequer was
pitched directly to the end-users in a series of six
separate presentations in different departments in order to meet
the users very specific requirements and practical
considerations.
"Of course we've all read the reports in the press about IT
project casualties. While we're obviously not as high profile as
some of the names vilified in the press, we were determined to
manage the project effectively from the start, with Fern
Consultancy's help," said Ian Davie at Daher Sawley. "The number
one priority is to make sure that the software does what it says on
the tin."
"Following the selection and installation of the software in
July 2002, we went live in the November, and the results have been
extremely positive." As Ian Davie put it: "What we appreciate
about Exchequer is the fact that it's flexible enough for us to
make the technology do what we want it to do. Too often, despite
protestations to the contrary, the user is forced to go with
processes dictated by the software. This does not happen with
Exchequer."
As a result of the benefit orientated design inherent
throughout the entire Exchequer System, productivity has been
enhanced and savings made. Staff who had previously been locked
into administrative positions by ineffectual software have now been
moved into more productive roles that fully utilise their
skills.
"The reaction from the shopfloor has been great. The
installation of Exchequer has been described as a breath of fresh
air" said Ian Davie at Daher Sawley. "But that's
because the benefits are immediate and tangible. The information
that we can pull out of the software is truly company-wide and
extremely valuable. It gives us a clear view of the organisation
that wasn't available before. As a result we're also more
agile and better equipped to react to the market."
As for the future, Daher Sawley hasn't finished with Exchequer
just yet. Core users have already been booked into training on
advanced reporting, to enable the company to realise even more
benefit from the system.
