Made-to-Order Precision Component Manufacturing
Patrick, the architect of Fraction ERP is also the MD at Oiltech Bearings a small precision manufacturing company in the UK. This unique position of being a software architect and running a manufacturing business gives real world experience as a user to incorporate into the planning and development of Fraction ERP.
Oiltech Bearings is a make-to-order business as well as service centre for aftermarket repairs. Its products are used in industrial rotating equipment with clients around the world, principally in industries supplying equipment to oil and gas, utilities, petrochemical and power generation.
It manages a large number of parts and is constantly adding new parts to the BOM register. Typically lead times are just a few weeks with emergency work sometimes within a few days. Some of the key requirements for Oiltech are below:
Rapidly build BOMS from templates or copy and modify existing BOMs for new product variants.
Quick turnaround on quotations with multi-currencies. Costing on every part is done with the BOM.
Execute orders immediately and create part demand for purchasing materials ASAP.
Ensure nothing is missed as simple fasteners can delay production or final shipping of assemblies.
Planning both with machine tool or operator and avoiding overloads is essential to on time delivery.
Intergration with Xero, all invoicing and purchasing from Fraction ERP with multi-currency support.
Oiltech bearings does not have any on premise servers. Cloud software and storage is essential as a small business to achieve reliability and accessibility without the up front investment. Oiltech bearings uses tablets in production to track works orders and enable access to drawings. Some production orders are concurrent with design activities. Orders can be started and final requirements updated with approved designs and required operations by updating the works orders.
Mobility is essential for Oiltech Bearings. This has accommodated the effects of Covid-19 to easily allow working from home. As a small team each member can wear several hats and serve many international clients, significant time is spendt overseas. The same key personnel must maintain access in order to handle new enquiries, bill of material approvals and basically keep the business running no matter where they are in the world.