A Preactor 300 FCS tool has replaced the manual wall planning board at Demag Cranes & Components (Mannesmann) – the manufacturer of overhead travelling cranes, hoists and warehouse systems.  The result has been increased production efficiencies due to greater visibility of future planning requirements. Production Manager Frank Reynolds, takes up the story.

“We’re a £56 million turnover company and our old wall board system just couldn’t keep up-to-date with the constant changes on the shop floor. Every product is individually made-to-order rather than batched, which makes our manufacturing operation very complex.

“And then we need to buy in the steel for each job. Our largest product is a 50 tonne, 44 metre long crane girder – which is a lot of steel!”

Demag Cranes researched the market for a software package to help it meet these manufacturing challenges. The solution was Preactor, an interactive electronic planning board designed to give companies greater control of their manufacturing operations by optimising the balance between demand and capacity.

Results include improved customer service and reduced costs.

“We found that Preactor could be tailored rapidly to our needs,” adds Frank Reynolds.

“We needed just a few days consultation, followed by some fine-tuning, and now our future planning requirements are very visible.

We can see what’s happening in the next few months. We use it to give dates for SAP material requirements.

And we can even use Preactor to tell us whether a projected new job is viable or not. It’s a very helpful tool.”