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Sage CS/3 springs into action for bed
manufacturer |
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Client profile
Halifax-based Dorlux
has been making beds for nearly 80 years. Every week, its 250 employees
manufacture and distribute some 2,400 divans and 3,600 mattresses to the
domestic and contract markets.
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“We’ve been able to cut delivery times from three weeks
to as little as ten days from the order being placed to delivery of the product
to the customer.”
Jonathan Whiteley
Finance Director
Dorlux |
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Although one of the
UK’s longest-established bed manufacturers, the company’s approach to business
is firmly focused on the future. Dorlux has been completely transformed in
recent years, with a new management team in place, an expanded product range,
and a £1 million investment in its factory, office and production facilities.
Not surprisingly in
this environment of continuous innovation and change, Dorlux relies heavily on
its IT systems to support the business.
The challenge
Back in 1997, the
search began to replace an ageing and unwieldy proprietary legacy system. The
main criteria were a proven track record for the supplier; an established
pedigree for the system; full year 2000 and euro compliance; easy maintenance;
and low cost of ownership.
The ultimate objective
was to achieve end-to-end integration across the company’s operations, from
real-time sales order processing with on-line credit checking and enquiry,
through interfacing to production, to timely, accurate delivery to the
customer.
Management needed
ready access to sophisticated business intelligence, such as data on customers
and product profitability, along with simple-to-use financial information for
increased control. For employees, low levels of IT awareness meant the new system
had to be simple to use and easy to adopt, especially as Dorlux wanted to avoid
the added cost of employing an IT manager.
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| Solution
summary |
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| Sage software: |
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Sage CS/3 – Finance/Distribution/
Manufacturing modules, integrated with DPS LogiX |
| Operating system: |
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IBM AIX and Windows NT® |
| Database: |
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C-ISAM integrated with Microsoft® SQL Server |
| Hardware: |
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IBM RS/6000, desktop PCs and laptops |
| No. of users: |
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40 |
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The solution
From an initial
line-up of 30 potential solutions, Dorlux selected Sage CS/3 from Sage
Enterprise Solutions.
Managing Director
Peter Hewitt comments, “We finally chose Sage Enterprise Solutions because they
satisfied all our main requirements. I was impressed by their philosophy of
maintaining a straightforward, packaged core product and using specialist programmes
for the areas which would normally be bespoke.”
The Sage CS/3 solution
offered a range of functions, from accounting to comprehensive business
management tools. Integrated modules for finance, services, distribution and
manufacturing allowed the system to be tailored to specific user needs, without
having to develop new software.
The close relationship
of Sage Enterprise Solutions and Microsoft meant that the integration of the
Dorlux front-office system was seamlessly integrated to the Sage CS/3 solution
via ODBC. This was crucial to Dorlux as they use Microsoft Office running over
NT, and was only made possible through their working closely with one of Sage
Enterprise Solutions’ partners.
The benefits
Operating a business
on the scale of Dorlux could mean ‘sleepless nights’ for the management, but
the Sage CS/3 solution gives ‘end-to-end support’ to the business. With
powerful third-party products also integrated, including DPS LogiX, a
specialist logistics planning product, the solution is now in use across
virtually all Dorlux operations: finance, sales, production, purchasing and
distribution. All users of the system are convinced it makes their job easier.
Reporting has been
greatly improved, while an additional benefit has been provided through a
specially developed data warehousing solution. Using a SQL Server database,
this solution collates data residing on several disparate systems.
Departments within the
company now work more closely together, resulting in greater productivity and
improved communication both internally and with customers. Communications have
been enhanced further through the introduction of both Microsoft Outlook and
integrated fax, which enables Dorlux to fax through confirmation of order to
customers on receipt of order. This automated process uses a SQL database to
collate and intelligently interpret order status. Phase 2 of the integrated fax
solution will confirm delivery date to customers.
Dorlux has seen a
rapid return on its investment in technology, with savings in key areas such as
stock control and raw material ordering. Integrated barcoding has been
introduced, bringing increased efficiencies to the production process. The
loading bay is now automated and the production flow from goods received to
dispatch has been improved through Work in Progress tracking.
Barcoding has also
increased the accuracy of products dispatched, significantly reducing the cost
of returns. Dorlux estimates that this technology paid for itself in just six
months.
DPS LogiX has created
greater efficiencies in load planning through seamless links to production
works orders or ‘cutting sheets’. It also enables Dorlux to calculate accurate
delivery dates for its customers, further enhancing service levels.
As
Jonathan Whiteley, Finance Director, stresses, the end result is improved
service to the Dorlux customer base. He says, “Dorlux now delivers a better
product on promised dates. We’ve been able to cut delivery times from three
weeks to as little as ten days from the order being placed to delivery of the
product to the customer.”
The future
An Available to
Promise module will allow Dorlux to check production capacity when orders are
placed. This module is written in Visual Basic, and will link directly to a
Microsoft SQL Server database.
Dorlux is also
currently considering its business-to-business internet options, particularly
as a way of getting even closer to and sharing more information with its
customers.
Jonathan Whiteley
concludes: “This solution will undoubtedly keep improving, and keep moving
Dorlux forward.”
For more details on the solution provided for Dorlux, please
contact Sage Enterprise Solutions on 0845 600
5999 (UK only) or +44 (0) 118 927 0100.
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