Access Supply Chain means business improvement is more than just 'torque' for Norbar

Emley, UK - 24th November 2008 - Europe's largest specialist manufacturer of torque tools, Norbar, is implementing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution from Access Supply Chain, to support a period of rapid business growth.

Norbar Torque Tools is based in Banbury and has operations in Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore and the USA.  All its products are manufactured in Banbury; it employs 188 people and has a turnover of £19M.  Norbar was the first company to commercially manufacture a torque wrench when, in 1942, it was asked to develop a means of accurately tightening the gasket-less cylinder head of the Rolls Royce Merlin, used in the Spitfire during WWII. 

In recent years Norbar's sales have doubled, the increased number of transactions overloading its existing IT system almost to the point of collapse.  The company went to market for an integrated business system to improve the accuracy and availability of data, and to add to the many improvements it had already gained through the introduction of lean manufacturing.

Norbar selected Access Supply Chain because, unlike some of the larger systems it had previously evaluated, it was not over-complicated but it had the capability to handle the company's diverse production streams, including make-to-order, engineer-to-order and assemble-to-order.  As well as delivering the required MRP functionality it was also able to support the Norbar's new lean manufacturing processes.

"Access Supply Chain took such a thorough, consultative sales approach, that it almost felt like 'try before you buy'. They gave us the confidence that their system did indeed meet our requirements." says Norbar's Finance Manager and project leader, Ann Marie Paddock.  "Their professional and balanced sales approach also gave us confidence, whilst their implementation team have continued to give excellent support as we configure the system."

Neill Brodey, Norbar's Managing Director, is excited about the prospect of a new system. "We have made many business decisions in the past based purely on gut-feel and while we generally get it right, the increased pressure on margins means that we need more information as we continue to grow our business."

Meanwhile, Norbar's Operations Manager, Graham Daniels sees another key benefit: "The Access Supply Chain software allows much better visibility of work-in-progress and so will help us promise shorter delivery times with a high confidence level."   

The five month implementation project is running to schedule and the 50-user system will go live at the start of January 2009, to coincide with Norbar's new financial year.

ASC.241108.LS.Norbar