Case Study — Precision Engineering
How Oiltech Bearings runs a global precision engineering business — from anywhere in the world.
A UK-based make-to-order business supplying precision parts to the oil & gas, power generation, and petrochemical industries — running without a single office-based administrator.
Industry
Precision Engineering
Location
United Kingdom
Business Model
Make-to-Order
Markets Served
Oil & Gas, Power
Key Outcomes
Measurable impact across the business
Zero
Duplicate Admin
No time wasted re-keying data across disconnected systems.
100%
Stock Accuracy
Every part accounted for — down to the smallest fastener.
Global
Access & Mobility
The team manages production from anywhere in the world.
The Challenge
A lean operation with no margin for admin overhead.
Oiltech Bearings is a small UK manufacturer supplying precision parts used in industrial rotating equipment — pumps, turbines and compressors. Their customers serve demanding industries including oil & gas, utilities, petrochemical and power generation.
As a make-to-order business managing a large and growing parts register, lead times are compressed — typically a few weeks, with emergency work sometimes needed within days.
With no office-based administrative staff, every process — sales, purchasing, production, shipping, and finance — had to run without adding overhead. The team needed a single system that connected every part of the business, accessible from anywhere, without the cost or complexity of traditional enterprise ERP.
The Solution
One system, built for how Oiltech actually works.
Quick Response to Enquiries
BOM copy and template tools let Oiltech cost-estimate and plan production at the enquiry stage — so when an order lands, they're already halfway through execution.
Nothing Falls Through the Cracks
Visual dashboards and stock alerts make sure no part — down to the smallest fastener — delays a complex assembly shipment.
Dual-Constraint Scheduling
Production is scheduled against both workcentre and operator capacity simultaneously — essential when specific skills are needed to hit delivery dates.
Fully Integrated, End to End
Sales through to invoicing runs in one system, with a Xero integration for accounting — no duplicated work, no reconciliation overhead.
Fraction has integrated all work processes so putting quotes into production is ridiculously quick and easy. Accurate stock inventory and managing the part demand now means nothing is overlooked, down to the smallest screw or pin.
Patrick Chester — Managing Director, Oiltech Bearings
Cloud Reliability & Mobility
Running a factory from a beach in Thailand.
As a small team with international clients, Oiltech's staff often spend significant time overseas. With Fraction ERP in the cloud, every member of the team works together regardless of location — and tablets on the shop floor keep works orders and drawings up to date in real time.
No on-premise servers. No upfront infrastructure cost. Just reliable access to the business from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Raising purchase orders from demand is almost instant
- Overdue purchases monitored to protect on-time delivery
- Fast data interrogation and drill-down on any record
- Concurrent design and production orders
- Reduction in typos and manual errors
A Unique Perspective
Built by a manufacturer, for manufacturers.
Patrick Chester, Managing Director of Oiltech Bearings, is also the founder and architect of Fraction ERP. This unique position — being both a software architect and a daily user of his own product — means real-world operational experience feeds directly into planning and development.
Could Your Business See Similar Results?
See how Fraction ERP could streamline your operations — just like it does for Oiltech Bearings every day.