New MRP System
Our system was 20+ years old, although effective it ran on an old operating system and the potential for software support knowledge reducing was high as our support providers ageing employees could retire without passing on knowledge etc. on what seemed to be a software package with a reducing number of users.
Seeing the potential problems that may arise in the future we started the long road of investigating new systems suitable for a heat treater. After many enquiries we settled for Visual Shop, an American software package designed for Finishers including Heat Treaters and Platers.
During the last twelve months we have painstakingly loaded all our existing part numbers on to the new system along with corresponding data and photographs. We also purchased and installed new computers and barcode readers on the shop floor. Our new Process Control Document (PCD) contains customer part photographs and all relevant data including a barcode. Operators now scan barcodes for their identity along with barcodes for the relevant piece of equipment and the PCD. This pulls all the information together and provides the necessary traceability demanded by today’s customers.
Some twelve months after our initial purchase we can all give a sigh of relief as we ‘went live’ in April, with only a few hiccups, all thanks to our dedicated staff who have embraced the change on top of their usual days’ work!
