Findus tightens supply chain with Intentia software
chain solution. The technology has been integrated with a number of
other systems, such as SAP and a mainframe system, to provide the
manufacturer with complete control - and knowledge - of the
production process.
The solution includes functionality for purchasing, goods receiving, invoice matching, distribution orders and issuing of raw material for production (by requisition order). The implementation project included Findus' Swedish facilities, which contain four warehouses. Findus is currently running Movex 11.4RPG in Norway and France and now Movex 12.5RPG in Sweden.
"The customer is very satisfied and the solution is to be handed over to the support organisation" said project manager Rikard Nilsson. "We are planning for the next step that will improve the solution further and cover production planning as well."
As with many food production businesses, Findus is a highly complex operation. The company develops, produces and markets a complete range of frozen food products including vegetables, vegetable mixes, prepared meals, recipe dishes and seafood. Findus products are sold in at least 20 countries with its own operations in all Nordic markets, Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Central and Eastern Europe, Thailand and Australia.
Movex is a fully integrated solution that Intentia claims is easy to install and inexpensive to operate. The solution has been designed to handle all types of products and processes in the food and beverage industry.
The technology provides support for total supply chain management and accommodates make-to-stock as well as make-to-order production.
"Because all information is contained in Movex and replicated to the portal, it's given us a vastly improved, instantaneous view of each customer," "We're able to answer most queries immediately, eliminating re-calls almost entirely."
The popularity of supply chain solutions such as Movex underlines a sea change in processing methods. While traditionally manufacturing was about producing one or a narrow range of products on a make-to-stock basis, enterprises today need advanced planning and scheduling because customers are demanding new and diverse products.
On top of this, the pressure to cut inventory to free up capital still exists. The deployment of advanced planning and scheduling tools has therefore become a priority issue for enterprises that produce or want to produce on a make-to-order or assemble-to-order basis and cut inventory levels.
And of course, legislation has been a significant driver. The recent US Bioterrorism Act and forthcoming EU legislation on traceability have added to the pressure on manufacturers to get their house in order and be able to trace products right through the chain. The problem traditionally has been a lack of investment in the food production sector.
This is now beginning to happen on the manufacturing side, through tracking and tracing and through closer collaboration with retailers. Industry experts believe that over the next few years, manufacturers will have achieved significantly tighter control over their processing and packaging operations.
