Back in May 2014, Lancashire-based Fylde CNC Specialists relocated to a brand-new facility in Kirkham, but in the years leading up to the move, the precision turning and milling sub-contract engineering business had already started to lay the foundations for its future expansion by investing in business administration and production management software from Bracknell-based PSL Datatrack (www.psldatatrack.com).

With a large base of global customers, and with typical batch sizes ranging from hundreds to hundreds of thousands, control needed to be maintained and managed as the business grew.

Office manager Julie Fairclough said: “Having recognised our customer and supplier administration procedures as a potential hindrance to our plans for growth, we knew that we needed to address them. We were looking for an off-the-shelf system with the flexibility to be customised and to grow with us.

"This initially meant a package that could cover fundamentals such as generating customer quotations professionally, cost centre reporting, raising purchase orders, monitoring goods in and out, works orders and generally helping to manage key information in our manufacturing processes.”

The company decided to investment in PSL Datatrack and then add further modules, including gauge calibration and non-conformance. It has found other advantages of the PSL Datatrack system, including its ability to provide real-time information and management information.

Furthermore, feedback on machine tool performance allows the company’s production management to intervene if necessary, making adjustments to machine settings to provide optimum results.