Major Auto Parts Manufacturer Implements Blue ERP Solution

Case study - Blue ERP.pdf (PDF document 2927Kb)

Blue Fountain has implemented a Blue ERP solution for a major Japanese automotive parts manufacturer (Company “K”). The Blue ERP application provides a web based automated sales management tool which combines purchase and sales order processing, dispatch and shipment of goods, goods received, invoice generation and account handling in a fully integrated and globally visible system.

Customer Profile

Company “K” supplies parts to over 20 car manufacturing plants throughout Europe. Parts are produced and shipped from the company's two factories located in the UK and the Czech Republic.

Business Type

Automotive
Manufacturing

Solution Summary

The Blue ERP solution delivered handles over 13,000 orders 24/7 from 20 clients throughout Europe. These orders are received by e-mail, by fax and by EDI (from 11 clients). The system processes each order sending the purchase order generated to the appropriate factory in either the UK or Czech Republic. As each order is filled the shipping information from the factories is entered into Blue ERP allowing real time order tracking. The goods received function allows Blue ERP to provide integrated invoice generation for both the customer and the producing factory with a self bill facility.

Business Issue

Company “K” has a particularly complex supply chain with parts being produced both in the UK and the Czech Republic. Each of these factories was working independently of each other accepting orders, shipping goods and issuing sales invoices separately. This was not the most effective business model and the decision was made to centralize the order processing and invoicing functions.

A new company was formed in Belgium in November 2004 to undertake this role. A key requirement of this new company was a solution which would deliver a central access point that provided visibility, control and overall management of the whole sales order process from receipt of the order to final invoice generation.

Blue Fountain Systems was selected as the preferred supplier based on the companies extensive experience of delivering customized business solutions at a cost comparable to leading off-the-self packages. BFS consultants spent time with the customer staff in an envisioning and scoping workshop to determine the key goals and criteria for the Blue ERP system. From this BFS were able to tailor the Blue ERP modules to meet the exact requirements of the customers specification.

Key Benefits

Improved customer service by provision of accurate and real time responses

Better control of inventory costs

Reduced errors by duplicate data entry

Complete order tracking including work in process, shipping and invoicing

Improved financial control

Globally visible sales process