Software-based efficiency

Penta Precision has over 60 years' precision machining and toolmaking experience. The Portsmouth subcontracting manufacturer that supplies to aerospace pharmaceutical and medical sectors was in need of a robust production control system to build the blueprint for their growth.

Before selecting ProgressPlus from Berkeley Myles Solutions, Penta had a simple manual system but as a growing business, the company soon became restrained by its limitations. Additionally, as a company supplying to aerospace, pharma and medical industries, traceability is of paramount importance.

Mark Walker at Penta Precision says: “During the selection process for a new production control system we looked at five different providers against three main parameters: support, ease of use and the features of the program itself.

“The tipping point with ProgressPlus was the levels of support offered both during and post-installation,” Mr Walker affirms. “For example when I telephone support, I'm through to a technician on-screen within a minute. Often it's just a refresher that's required on a process we perhaps haven't used for a while. Support levels are exemplary.

“Another point worthy of note is that ProgressPlus is a totally comprehensive software package,” he adds. “In addition to a number of optional modules, it also features a ‘today' screen which drives activity from the start to the very end of the process. It's very intuitive and helps the business run efficiently. We didn't see many alternative systems that could offer the same functionality.”

Penta Precision has been using ProgressPlus as business control system since 2007 and the product is being used to drive continuous improvement throughout the organisation. When the initial purchase was made Penta employed five people; now the headcount has risen to 20 with plans to extend this to 30 within three years.

“ProgressPlus is helping us as we are continually updating and getting better at what we do,” Mr Walker concludes. “It is also great at keeping our pricing levels competitive as we can look at buying history. Since purchasing ProgressPlus we have trebled our turnover and quadruped our staff.”

With product traceability being of vital importance, ProgressPlus has made things easier during ISO 9001 audits: “The auditor can get all the information he needs from a computer screen,” Mr Walker says. “All the historical data is there at your fingertips and it's simple to retrieve.

“In addition it has really simplified the order processing process. One person used to spend 50% of their time processing orders; now we are processing four times as many and it still only accounts for half the employee's job time. It has also helped with our lean manufacturing objectives and stock control. Everything is running much tighter now and we've still not unleashed the software's full potential.” Berkeley Myles Solutions
www.progress-plus.co.uk

Penta Precision
www.pentaprecision.co.uk