Bensons Control Panels
Managing Stock and Costs
Specialist control panel manufacturer, Bensons Control Panels, was being held back by outdated processes. Stock management was a major concern with each of their low volume, high complexity control
panels utilising between 30 – 1500 parts. Tracking job costs was also an issue, with data often not available for long periods, making it difficult to identify and act on problems in a timely manner.
Recognising the need for change, Bensons implemented E-Max ERP and, as a result, have been able to
Reduce their workforce by 5%
Gain control of stock management and orders
Achieve full visibility of costs and track these accurately, in real time
Get better control and visibility of day to day activities
Standardise and automate more processes across the business
Manage spare parts and offsite installations and service
- Beckbridge Road, Normanton Ind Est, Normanton, West Yorkshire, WF6 1QS
- hello@bensonspanels.co.uk
- 01924 894162
Bensons Control Panels is a specialist manufacturer that designs and builds high quality bespoke electrical control panels. This family-owned business has been producing control panels from its Normanton, West Yorkshire site since the 1960s, and currently has over 6,000 panels installed across 30 different countries.
The Challenges
Despite the company’s progression and steady growth, many of the processes in place within Bensons Controls had remained static for years and were holding the company back. Their low volume, high complexity products require a high degree of manual processing and each has a unique bill of materials (BOMs), with 30 to 1500 parts. Every one of these parts is needed in order to manufacture, test and deliver the finished control panel and not having clear visibility of stock in real time was a serious issue to Bensons. Spreadsheets were being used across the business but were not linked, making it near impossible to get an accurate view of materials.
Bensons Controls chose to go with an ERP solution.
- Reduce material shortages by making sure component procurement is aligned to the bill of materials
- Optimise stockholding to reveal time stock management to prevent holding too much stock
- Improve the speed and accuracy of as built panel costs
- Improve the efficiency and visibility of production management through improved scheduling
- Have a single source of all information
The Solution
The Benefits
Whilst E-Max ERP has enabled Bensons to make solid progress on the above goals, even in challenging pandemic times, there have been other benefits. Matthew outlined the most significant of these:
Bensons Panels implemented E-Max ERP just prior to the start of the pandemic. Despite the challenging times, as a result of E-Max, Bensons has been able to:
- Reduce their workforce by 5%
- Gain control of stock management and orders
- Achieve full visibility of costs and track these accurately, in real time
- Get better control and visibility of day to day activities
- Standardise and automate more processes across the business
- Manage spare parts and offsite installations and service