WinMan helps streamline processes for complex engineering projects
Company Size
200-1,000
Region
- Europe
Country
- United Kingdom
Product
- WinMan ERP
Tech Stack
- ERP Software
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Cost Savings
- Customer Satisfaction
- Productivity Improvements
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
Applicable Industries
- Chemicals
- Pharmaceuticals
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Procurement
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Inventory Management
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
Based in Huddersfield, Thomas Broadbent and Sons Ltd manufactures industrial centrifuges for a global client base. Each item is engineered to order for customers in industries ranging from sugar processing to pharmaceutical manufacturing and chemical engineering. The company has a long history of providing high-quality, custom-engineered solutions to meet the specific needs of its diverse clientele. With a focus on precision and reliability, Thomas Broadbent and Sons Ltd has established itself as a leader in the manufacturing of industrial centrifuges, catering to a wide range of industrial applications.
The Challenge
The requirements for any one project can be very complex, with the customer supplying detailed specifications for items such as control systems, pneumatic components, and drives. The materials used can be difficult to obtain, ranging from mild steels to complex high-performance alloys, and because components are safety critical and have to operate under high dynamic stresses, there may be special requirements on proprietary items such as bearings. This can mean that some bought-in items are not only expensive but can be hard to source and come on long lead times. This means that lead times on materials and other bought-in items are an important consideration to ensure delivery in time. This assists project cash-flow management by taking lead times into account so that these items are only delivered and paid for as they are needed.
The Solution
The WinMan manufacturing ERP software allows Broadbent to build complex quotations for major engineering projects and have visibility from order to delivery of the current cost to complete the order. WinMan Projects and Divisions/Site controls have also significantly streamlined administrative processes, reducing keystrokes by more than 50%. The system effectively allows Broadbent to create a Work Breakdown Structure that identifies and accounts for every item that needs to go into the finished centrifuge. The top level represents the whole machine and below that are the primary ‘cost buckets’ for each element of the build, such as the centrifuge body, the control system, motors and drives, and so on. Once the quote becomes an order, the job becomes a manufacturing template. The next action is for the management team to fix key milestone dates. These take into account constraints on works capacity and lead times on key bought-in equipment, together with some contingency to allow for unexpected delays or problems. The WinMan system allows the company to change the release dates and due dates rather than having them tied.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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