Holfeld uses a broad range of applications in order to manage its daily IT needs. The firm relies on IT to perform functions such as monitoring machine efficiency, designing products, and sending information to staff and customers. The most interesting development of late has been the implementation of a barcoding system.
Eliminating errors
Holfeld deals with a wide variety of plastics in its manufacturing business. In order to keep track of which materials were being used on particular jobs, the firm recruited the help of Zetes, a pan-European goods identification software firm with offices in Limerick and Dublin.
"Up to then everything was handwritten reports. One guy's nine is another guy's seven. [The Zetes system] automated the production process for us," says Robbie Byrne, IT manager with Holfeld Plastics. "We have wireless hand scanners and printers. Each operator on the machines just pushes a button and it prints him the correct label for the correct batch."
Byrne says this system has reduced the potential for human error to cause problems for the business. "If you can barcode something you can identify it readily. You can track it right through, it means you don't have problems with incorrect labeling or mixing up batches."
Information on the barcode is entered into a database so Holfeld can work out the type of plastic being used on any particular project. "You can't mix polymers. It'd be like mixing gloss paint with water paint, they don't gel together," says Byrne. "It's very important that you can identify [different materials] so you can stream all your products through. Bar-coding saves businesses from any problems that could occur with handwritten labels."
On top of the quality control benefits, the implementation of this application has also enabled Holfeld to expand its recycling operation. The firm can keep better track of the materials going through the business. This enables the business to make more packaging from recycled material.
Driving efficiency
The implementation of the Zetes system is part of a company-wide effort to drive efficiency in the business. "You have to make yourself as cost-efficient as possible. The whole trick is to try and make sure that you're doing everything correctly and as efficiently as possible," says Byrne.
Holfeld recognised that in order for such an application to be a success, it needed to get staff on board. Employees need to understand that such systems are tools to help improve the business, and staff must actively engage with these technologies in order to reap the full benefit. "You can't just throw barcodes on everything and expect it all to flow," says Byrne.
In order to supplement the Zetes application, the Wicklow business uses other applications to curb waste in the firm. Holfeld uses a program called PlantMaster, for example, provided by British firm Barco, to get real-time production values from its machines. "It gives you all the readings from the machines. It gives you your downtimes, your uptimes. It tells you how well your machine is doing, how efficient your machine is running," says Byrne.
IT also plays a key role in the firm's communications with both staff and customers. High-tech computer aided design (CAD) files are regularly used by Holfeld. These CAD files are large and need to be sent to customers for approval. "We'd be dead in the water without broadband," says Byrne. He said the availability of broadband internet access means the firm need not worry about delays in delivering information.
One eye on tomorrow
Never a firm to rest on its laurels, Holfeld is already actively engaged in deploying an enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) system to further drive efficiency. "We're literally in the closing stages of implementing Dynamics NAV, from Microsoft. It's an ERP and CRM system," says Byrne.
"It's company-wide. It's customer information, stock information, ordering, warehousing, quoting - you name it, it'll do everything," he continues. "We're expecting to go live in January. We've been at it now six months, just getting everything ready." When it kicks in fully, staff will be able to access the system online and process orders for customers remotely.
The adoption of these applications shows that the Wicklow firm is eager to use IT to improve the way it does business. A firm that wants to replicate Holfeld's success would be well advised to talk with trusted IT partners to find ways technology can help. "I would start by talking to a good vendor. If you can get a good quality vendor on your side, that will give you the backup and support you need moving forward," says Byrne.
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