Bespoke Management System

Mill Management

The Brief

Running a mill is a complex task. Service Timber commissioned us to develop a system that helps. The software should be user friendly, capable of logging production levels, keeping tighter stock control and logging waste, all within a paperless environment.

What Does The Solution Do?

Stock Accuracy

Every time a pack is processed through the mill it will be knocked off stock instantly, stopping the wait of 1 – 3 days for the sheets to be processed.

Movement Sheets

No packs that are taken into the mill will be written down, neither by the sideloader driver or the mill. This reduces the paperwork going into the office.

Waste Analysis

All waste is logged through the system, to the last piece. This gives our client to analyse where the most waste is coming from and take measures to reduce it.

Paperless Production

No more paperwork will be needed for timber sales that will be processed through the mill. The jobs will be allocated to a machine electronically.

Live Order Status

As packs are created for an order, the tallies are automatically saved to the order. This also progresses the completion percentage so sales can see progress without having to call anyone.

Machining Visibility

To find out when an order is being machined, sales staff can look on the dashboard to see what the machines are working on and when their order will be machined.

Performance Monitor

All machine performance is stored throughout the day and recorded. This allows the company to ensure the most possible is being put through each machine.

Breakdown Analysis

All breakdowns are logged in the system. This allows for analysis of how often machines are breaking down. Action can be taken through preventative maintenance to reduce this.

Job Management

Using the mill management screen, mill managers can plan their machining to reduce the changeovers on each machine, thus increasing production.

Integrated system performance monitors

The Process

Machining jobs are allocated to a machine using the Mill Management dashboard. Using this dashboard jobs can also be dragged up and down the priority list. Each machine has a screen that shows the machine’s job list in the order in which they should be completed. Operators claim the job they are working on and process packs from stock for each job. In doing so, labels are printed for the finished item, sawn stock is consumed and any waste is logged.

In addition to the above, processing the jobs in this way gives sales staff a live view of the job progress which is invaluable when discussing delivery dates with customers. It also creates the finished packs directly in the order, negating the need to call yard operatives to get pack tallies and volumes.

Mill Performance Dashboard

The mill performance dashboard is accessed from the Timber Stock and Sales software. This shows what every machine is working on at any time. It also shows if a machine is currently broken down. This screen also shows what job each machine will be working on next, recent packs created on each machine, current machine run rate and wastage totals.

 

Admin Saved

75%

Automated stock management, paperless production, workload management and quick_create dispatch notes all combine to provide a huge amount of time-saving in production and the office.

Message From Our Client

Service Timber Ltd are a Timber Importer based in Yorkshire. We supply rough sawn, machined and cross-cut timber to a wide range of markets all over the UK.

We have used the development services provided by Foursquare Solutions Ltd for many years. Their first project was to analyse our stock and ordering systems. The company went on to develop a bespoke software solution that allowed us to tightly control our timber purchasing and stock holding.

Since then, Foursquare Solutions Ltd have developed systems for all facets of our business. These systems have greatly improved the operational processes within the company and have facilitated substantial growth.

We continue to engage the services of Foursquare Solutions Ltd and have shown our confidence in their services by commissioning a substantial software system for our machining operations, which will be completed this year. This involves a touch screen workstation at all production machines, which will show the work schedule and will give the operators the ability to sign-off work and produce pack labels. The system will help our production managers control their production workloads far more effectively and it will decrease their administration considerably. We also expect quicker turnaround of orders which we know will increase our margins.

Foursquare Solutions Ltd have always provided an honest and professional service and I have no hesitation in recommending their services to any potential client.

Robert Richardson

Operations Manager

Service Timber Ltd

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