http://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies.aspSSI Newsletters: TROPOS is developed and implemented by SSI in the UK as a modular ERP system to support process manufacturing and distribution. The software products from SSI, deliver erp enterprise resource planning solutions to manufacturers and processors of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, textiles, paper, packaging, metals and lean manufacturing. Here's a list of our current case studies...ssicasestudieshttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/wbBwMpeHvew/turtlewax.htm“On time in full delivery (OTIF) is our key metric, TROPOS has helped us make dramatic improvements in our delivery performance, though we’ve still got a long way to go.” Although Turtle Wax Ltd has had a fairly changeable history over the past few years, it has become substantially more efficient due to the implementation of TROPOS. “SSI’s people helped us get through some difficult periods,” she says. “Now, we’re much better equipped to grow our business.”http://www.ssi-world.com/pharm/images/turtlewax.jpg22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{71331014-4110-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Chemical and Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/turtlewax.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/tSuKT1mklF0/axminster.htmAccording to Finance Director, Tony Biggs, Axminster Carpets chose TROPOS over its competitors for three main reasons. “We wanted to be able to develop the system as we needed to, in house, without relying on the supplier all the time. TROPOS gives us that ability through SSI's software development toolkits.” The software development toolkits provide the ability to generate customised TROPOS transactions so that standard TROPOS screens can be supplemented by custom-written applications that use standard TROPOS features to provide the best possible match to the business processes. The software development toolkits also enable third-party packages to be easily integrated with TROPOS. “Secondly, we wanted to have a cost-effective route for future upgrades taking advantage of SSI’s continual software development,” says Tony Biggs. “We checked with other users of TROPOS and found upgrade costs were relatively modest. This was quite different from other suppliers who need to make costly bespoke changes to their software. Because we use SSI’s software development toolkits, we can implement the upgrade in house – and are in the process of doing so.” The third reason why Axminster Carpets chose TROPOS was, in the words of Tony Biggs, “because it offered a total solution that we could roll out across the Group, enabling us to consolidate information with commonality across all processes, from wool purchasing to delivery of finished product.”http://www.ssi-world.com/images/ax4.jpg22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{39EA0644-4110-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Mills and Metalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/axminster.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/6gyXAxWyX_4/jamescropper.htmSpecialist paper manufacturer James Cropper plc knew that replacement of its bespoke internal IT system could mean sacrificing some of the highly tailored functionality developed over many years. However, the inherent risks of the legacy system and the need to move the business forward presented a compelling case for change. TROPOS provides the flexibility to customise – without the constraints of a bespoke system.http://www.ssi-world.com/mills/images/jamescropper.jpg22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{25B1566B-4110-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Mills and Metalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/jamescropper.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/nxGzNWPnB2c/callender.htmWhen it came to selecting an ERP system vendor Callender Aeropart had come to the conclusion that it wanted to partner with a supplier that specialised in medium-sized companies, not a global giant. “We knew that, as a subcontractor, we would need flexibility in our solution, and that it would have to evolve as our manufacturing processes changed,” “SSI were realistic about what we would achieve, and they didn’t parade lots of young whiz-kids in front of us. Their watchword was ‘no surprises’, and that appealed to us and they were realistic about the amount of effort we would need to put in to achieve success.”http://www.ssi-world.com/mills/images/callender.jpg22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{D92198C5-4110-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Mills and Metalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/callender.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/hYj5_IVKpH4/pegler.htmNot only does Pegler manufacture its own brass plumbing and heating valves, but it also makes it own brass. The Doncaster-based organisation has a continuous cast brass furnace, a foundry and stamping shop on site. SSI was chosen for several reasons. One was the fact that it had a track record in providing supply chain systems to firms involved in the key areas of raw materials management and manufacturing. "Turning raw materials into finished goods is a highly complicated process, and we needed a supplier who already understood the difficulties involved in our workflow processes." Another key reason was the experience of the project managers at SSI.http://www.ssi-world.com/mills/images/pegler.jpg22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{8973D2EC-4110-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Mills and Metalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/pegler.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/rAz-d9xA_fs/rangemaster.htmRangemaster (formerly Glynwed Leisure) is the UK's leading manufacturer of stainless steel and moulded plastic kitchen sinks employing 300 staff at its Nottingham site. It currently exports a third of its production, with customers in more than 40 countries around the world. In the UK, Rangemaster supplies its products through a number of channels, including large DIY chains, kitchen manufacturers, builder merchants and major distributors who supply to small high street boutiques.http://www.ssi-world.com/lean/images/rangemaster.jpg22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{612FA33C-4210-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Lean Discretehttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/rangemaster.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/5NdCsPbzLZ8/roxel.htmInventory is a dead cost for any business, and BSL is no exception. But, at BSL, inventory is also lifeblood: if a product is not in stock, or can’t be obtained instantly, sales could be lost. “Inventory is our biggest asset – stock represents 70 per cent of our net asset base,” says Marshall. “What we hold in inventory is what we judge necessary to meet demand for ex-stock supply. But it’s not just about how much stock to hold – it’s also about where in our network it should be held. It’s very important for us to talk to our customers and find out how crucial their requirement is – because that determines from where the order will be fulfilled.” Stock held at branch level can obviously be delivered to customers rapidly – vital when the requirement is urgent.http://www.ssi-world.com/lean/images/roxel.jpg22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{D11D4610-4310-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Lean Discretehttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/roxel.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/0GjlzGWRpzQ/firthrixson.htmHigh value, low volume alloy steel group Firth Rixson (formerly ANI Aurora) had two major problems with the computer systems in its Forgings Division. Firstly, they were not Year 2000 compliant, and secondly, the three businesses within the division were all running different systems. "Six months from signing a contract with SSI for its TROPOS ERP system, Firth Rixson Subsidiary Cromdane was up and live on the new system, followed quickly by the first of the forgings division sites.http://www.ssi-world.com/mills/images/firthrixon.gif22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{49E3DF47-4310-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Mills and Metalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/firthrixson.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/JoVLUQz5r1E/catnic.htmCatnic, which is part of Corus (formerly British Steel), manufactures and markets steel building products through builders merchants throughout the UK and into a number of export markets. The company’s steel lintel has become the generic for the industry but Catnic also sells fence post support systems and plasterers’ beads and building components. With over 5,000 product lines and industry demands for speedy delivery, inventory management and warehousing information are particularly important issues to a company like Catnic.http://www.ssi-world.com/mills/images/catnic.gif22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{51A8C46B-4310-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Mills and Metalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/catnic.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/Fzt5E-G7WYg/donandlow.htmIndustrial textile manufacturer Don and Low has completely overhauled its IT systems with assistance from e-business and supply chain specialists, SSI Ltd. SSI helped Don and Low bring together a complex web of 'best-of-breed' solutions in a £2 million project covering five sites and two businesses. SSI's TROPOS supply chain software now lies at the heart of a system which will help Don and Low to run its business more efficiently and deliver better service to customers.http://www.ssi-world.com/mills/images/donandlow.jpg22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{11AE9417-4410-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Mills and Metalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/donandlow.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/SaKm4_v7N10/outokumpu.htmIn 2004 Outokumpu acquired the brass foundry and mill of Boliden MKM. Established more than 90 years ago, Boliden MKM was the UK-based operation of one of Europe's leading manufacturers of extruded brass products. Located in the West Midlands, it supplies items such as brass rod, profile/section, hollow bar and wire to customers in building, engineering, electrical and consumer markets around the world, using state-of-the art production technologies. When replacing its bespoke mainframe solution with a package running on an open systems platform, Boliden MKM knew it would have to sacrifice some of the highly tailored functionality which had been developed over many years. However, the flexibility of SSI's TROPOS? Supply Chain solution, coupled with the power of the TROPOS ‘Developer Toolkit’, has allowed Boliden MKM to meet almost all of its needs through a packaged solution without compromising the integrity of the core product.http://www.ssi-world.com/mills/images/outokumpu.jpg22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{F9E22D55-4410-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Mills and Metalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/outokumpu.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/fl0LAKv8Q1Y/brintons.htmBrintons Carpets employs 2000 people across three sites in Kidderminster and one each in Telford and Portugal. It is using the TROPOS ERP (enterprise resource planning) system from SSI to streamline and support the production of both a large number of standard products and a constantly changing stream of `one-off' jobs. The company's operations cover all aspects of production from raw wool processing to distribution of the finished carpet including wool blending, carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving. In addition, Brintons builds all its own carpet weaving looms utilising the resources of a considerable engineering facility.http://www.ssi-world.com/mills/images/brintons.jpg22/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{B5D33E85-4410-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Mills and Metalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/brintons.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/Ig_QIktTRHA/alba.htmlAlba Bioscience's role is traditionally to develop and manufacture diagnostic products – typically, reagents for blood grouping and haematology - for use by the NHS in Scotland and in international markets. A TROPOS ERP system from SSI is at the heart of Alba Bioscience’s ambitious plans for global expansion. TROPOS has helped position the organisation as a viable commercial organisation over the last nine years. Management sees the system as “an ingrained part of the business”.http://www.ssi-world.com/images/New%20Picture.png21/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{759E46BD-B00F-DD11-B8D0-0019BB2AA698}Chemical and Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/alba.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/1aHo6CSYNKs/giles.htmGiles Foods is a leading UK manufacturer of frozen and chilled food products for the wholesale, catering and bake-off markets. Another key driver for change was the increasing demand on the business posed by electronic data interchange (EDI) for customer orders. It was critical to a business with a reputation for fresh quality, short shelf-life, products that it minimised the time between customer orders and delivery.http://www.ssi-world.com/food/images/GilesFoods.jpg16/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{333704A6-920B-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/giles.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/CfLKlnjzQ-Y/burnstewart.htmTROPOS provides another key area of support at Burn Stewart, in the compilation of monthly Customs and Excise reports, which reflect each stage of production. Previously, these reports involved considerable effort to compile and check. “This is very important because CandE could close down an operation if they were not satisfied that the movement of spirit was strictly controlled. Basically what CandE want to see is an analysis of movements, because a whole lot of things can happen to a single vat of whisky….http://www.ssi-world.com/food/images/burnstewart.jpg16/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{0D94B7E6-920B-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/burnstewart.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/w7aHhRkiFlk/morrisonbowmore.htmWhen it came to selecting a vendor, the special requirements of the whisky industry made it imperative for Morrison Bowmore Distillers to find a partner with experience of that sector. “It was absolutely vital that any partner should have deep knowledge and understanding of Customs and Excise (CandE) requirements, and an appreciation of the issues involved in managing bulk whisky stocks,” “Ideally, we wanted the bulk whisky functionality to be part of the core product; we weren’t keen on having bespoke software, or having to manage the integration of disparate systems ourselves.”http://www.ssi-world.com/food/images/morrisonbowmore.jpg16/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{7F251D26-930B-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/morrisonbowmore.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/koeFaaBIEiE/greenall.htmDistilling is a specialised and highly-regulated business. It’s also unusual in that the vast majority of the price of its product – to the end consumer – is not accounted for by manufacturing costs, nor by distribution and retail, but by a government-imposed levy – excise duty. Thus, as well as the normal management issues faced by any manufacturing or processing business, distillers must account for all movements of bulk spirit and movements in or out of bonded warehouses (secure facilities that allow firms to store spirit without incurring ruinous amounts of duty) to Customs and Excise. As a producer of alcohol, Greenall must account for both incoming and outgoing goods that contain alcohol; it is also responsible for paying duty on any alcohol content that is unaccounted for. "Maintaining 100 per cent accuracy regarding our stocks is essential: we need to track purchases, movements during storage and production, and sales of finished goods."http://www.ssi-world.com/food/images/greenall.jpg16/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{27AEC27B-930B-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/greenall.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/uLRuEiJFNS8/gala.htmBack in the early 1950s, Lyons (of Corner House fame) pioneered UK office automation with its investment in LEO – the Lyons Electronic Office. Its LEO 1 machine, the world’s first business computer, was used initially to value the weekly output of bread and cakes from its bakeries. Half a century later, production of Lyons’s popular retail coffee brand is managed by another cutting edge system – SSI’s TROPOS. And, just as LEO sign-posted important changes, the TROPOS ERP system has facilitated a major business transformation for Gala Coffee and Tea, current owner of the Lyons coffee brand.http://www.ssi-world.com/images/gala1.jpg16/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{F7FB34A7-940B-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/gala.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/yuoSynYElhc/georgeadams.htmLincolnshire pie and sausage producer George Adams Pork Products is looking to its new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to underpin future growth through tighter control of the production process. It is implementing SSI’s TROPOS system across its six plants, so that planning, production and financial reporting all share a common database – giving the company an unparalleled single view of its business.http://www.ssi-world.com/images/georgeadams3.jpg16/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{9BF875EF-940B-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/georgeadams.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/uHI3w1OBN7E/glisten.htmlChallenge at Glisten, confectionery manufacturer : A growing company with multiple sites need to control supply chain problems and improve customer service. Solution: SSI's TROPOS Manufacturing and Supply chain Solution with CODA Financials.http://www.ssi-world.com/images/OGN_4.png15/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{51A92A9D-F20A-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/glisten.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/b5APaofomLw/kettle.htmChallenge at Kettle, fresh vegetable producer : Streamline processes to meet retail supply chain requirements, respond to business changes rapidly, create a single set of information to manage business and plan for future opportunities, control stock, trace deliveries.. Solution: SSI’s TROPOS ERP solution with CODA Financials ...http://www.ssi-world.com/images/kettle2.jpg15/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{A5E4F00B-F30A-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/kettle.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/yhI2hNG08sA/blakeman.htmThanks to SSI, James T Blakeman and Co has introduced new IT systems to reduce production costs, increase management information, and ensure full traceability.http://www.ssi-world.com/images/blakeman2.jpg15/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{25F8995D-F30A-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/blakeman.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/Gj1UoYxQ59U/uniq.htmChallenge at UNIQ: Replace paper-based and bespoke systems; provide flexibility in production, without loss of efficiency. Solution: TROPOS manufacturing system, including modules for Quality Management, Recipe Management, Products and Processes, and interfaces to forecasting and financial systems ...http://www.ssi-world.com/images/uniq_dips.jpg15/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{095049B0-F30A-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/uniq.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/h5_53asITHw/foxs.htmEarly Go-live at Fox’s Confectionery brings in the benefits. The scope included electronic integration with food brokers, forecasting, manufacturing planning, operational recording and inter-warehouse movements with bar-codes, quality, purchasing and finance.http://www.ssi-world.com/food/images/foxsglacier.gif15/04/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{D10A7835-F40A-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/news/foxs.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/vOVfDc4vJHM/default.aspKettle Produce, based near Cupar in Scotland, are specialists in growing, processing and marketing a wide range of whole and prepared vegetables to major multiple supermarkets and food service businesses in the UK. Liz Waugh, Kettle's finance director and Jackie Horsburgh, Orkie Site Manager, describe how TROPOS has helped Kettle fulfill their business needs.http://www.ssi-world.com/images/logo_kettle.gif29/02/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{49B53BDF-F609-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/videos/default.asphttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/xm6Hs_yAOVs/alergy.htmAllergy Therapeutics Challenge: Provide better control of inventory, manufacturing and sales processes to support a complex and growing business. Solution: SSI’s TROPOS ERP solutionhttp://www.ssi-world.com/images/logo_alergy.jpg04/02/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{B167D329-8E00-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Chemical and Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/alergy.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/KlhdqpLuQDA/ianmacleod.htmA strong history of growth through expansion and acquisition has transformed Ian Macleod from a small family trader to a large-scale manufacturer, distributor, seller and marketer of whisky. To support this, the company needed a new integrated IT system that could offer the control and visibility required to manage the operations as one business model, and provide a platform for further company growth.http://www.ssi-world.com/images/logo_ianmacleod.jpg04/02/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{FD0D2A67-8E00-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/gencontent/casestudies/ianmacleod.htmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ssicasestudies/~3/vOVfDc4vJHM/default.aspFrom the Glengoyne distillery in the Highlands of Scotland, Mike Younger tells how TROPOS was applied to Ian Macleod's complex processes and the benefits gained in multiple areas of the business.http://www.ssi-world.com/images/logo_ianmacleod.jpg01/02/2008Chelford GroupChelford Group Marketing{6F3391B7-F609-DD11-B45F-0019BB2AA698}Food and Drinkhttp://www.ssi-world.com/videos/default.asp