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Case Studies > SSL WinMan provides real time visibility for leading audio communications supplier, Racal Acoustics

SSL WinMan provides real time visibility for leading audio communications supplier, Racal Acoustics

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Applicable Industries

National Security & Defense
Telecommunications

Applicable Functions

Business Operation
Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Inventory Management
Predictive Maintenance
Remote Asset Management

Services

System Integration
Training

The Challenge

The modern military's reliance on accurate communication in demanding conditions has increased the pressure on Racal Acoustics to develop and supply the right equipment within tight timescales. The company faced challenges in managing a flexible and widely dispersed manufacturing capability, ensuring supplier consistency, and proactively managing product lifecycle issues. Additionally, Racal Acoustics had to address the inefficiencies of its aging IT and paper-based systems, which hindered visibility and problem resolution across the production line.

About The Customer

Racal Acoustics is a world leader in the supply of highly-engineered audio ancillaries for rugged military communication applications. With a history spanning almost 100 years, the company provides mission-critical equipment to 108 branches of armed forces in 80 countries. Racal Acoustics has an ambitious growth strategy and a reputation for innovation, reliability, and service, which has helped it nearly double its turnover to £35 million in the past five years. The company needed to invest in a state-of-the-art integrated ERP system to facilitate this growth and found the perfect ally in SSL WinMan.

The Solution

Racal Acoustics selected WinMan from SSL WinMan as its integrated ERP system after a thorough evaluation process involving over 30 potential suppliers. The company opted for a medium-paced implementation strategy, commencing in February and going live in July. SSL provided solid assistance throughout the implementation process, with a consultant onsite two days a week. Each department was tasked with reviewing and cleaning up its own data, which allowed for accurate and meaningful data testing before go-live. The phased implementation gave all departments realistic targets and timescales for having live information up to date before the final changeover.

Operational Impact

The implementation of WinMan ERP provided real-time visibility of information, allowing employees to see the impact of their work on the system and vice versa.
The improved visibility eliminated the culture of workarounds, ensuring that correct data was entered at the appropriate place within the system.
Senior management and accounts gained instant access to the financial state of the company on a daily basis.

Quantitative Benefit

Racal Acoustics achieved an 'Order on Time and In Full' (OTIF) level of 90%, with a projected target of 95% by the end of the year.
The company's turnover nearly doubled to £35 million in the past five years.
The accounts department reduced the time taken to compile month-end accounts by almost 50%.