Investment in a PSL Datatrack production control software system has brought a number of organisational benefits to CNC 2010 Ltd of Buntingford, Hertfordshire. These include enhanced traceability, improved management and the establishment of “one version of the truth” according to Emily Coleman, Director of the subcontract precision engineering company.

Before implementing PSL Datatrack, CNC 2010 relied on manual methods for quoting and managing its business operations. Quoting was done through Excel spreadsheets, resulting in the need to update and maintain multiple price lists for each new item quoted. This approach posed several challenges, including lack of a centralised information system, slow processing times and the risk of lost information due to paper-based processes.

CNC 2010 now feels more confident in its quoting process due to PSL Datatrack’s standardised approach. Starting in the Quotations module, which is described as the software equivalent of setting a machine tool, information is entered once and reused quickly and efficiently throughout the rest of the system to final invoice.

Named after the year it was established, CNC 2010 specialises in CNC contract machining, bespoke assembly and the production of short-run and one-off prototypes. Its range of machinery includes CNC 3 & 4 axis machines up to a bed of 1.6m x 0.8m, CNC lathes and surface grinding equipment. The company currently employees 12 people.

CNC 2010 learned of PSL Datatrack through a fellow precision engineering subcontractor, a long-term supporter of the system in its 20th year of use. Emily comments that the sales process for the software was “smooth, with no pressure and comprehensive explanations of the software’s features and benefits.”

“We ultimately chose PSL Datatrack because it is designed specifically for the subcontract precision engineering industry and offered bespoke functionality tailored to our requirements,” continues Emily.

Utilisation of PSL Datatrack aligned with CNC 2010’s aims for the business. By streamlining the entire production process, it provided an opportunity for growth. “We had reached maximum capacity in terms of administrative processing with our existing workload and PSL Datatrack helped us to overcome this limitation,” says Emily.

The implementation and training process involved directors, administrative staff and workshop personnel. While Emily had experience with new systems, she remarks that the training was thorough and complete. “We didn’t feel there was a question we couldn’t ask!”

Since implementing PSL Datatrack, CNC 2010 has been able to process more orders and increase sales. Moving forward, its focus is to leverage the software to optimise stock control and material handling. It also aims to obtain ISO 9001 accreditation, further enhancing its credibility and market position.

The software has also offered several unforeseen advantages. “It’s not only brought our business benefits, but our people, who have never used systems before. They’ve had access to training and are now able to effectively use a system”, comments Emily.

Additionally, Emily picks out the system’s Listing Screens and Invoicing Wizard as particularly beneficial to CNC 2010’s operations. Listing Screens enable record filtering and rapid on-screen reporting in various modules while the Invoicing Wizard allows large scale invoicing to be processed automatically in seconds, saving valuable time and administration efforts.

Looking forward, CNC 2010 Ltd views PSL Datatrack as a platform for even further growth. The system’s ability to streamline business processes and provide valuable insights with a click of a button has been instrumental in its ongoing success.

Emily emphasises the importance of laying strong foundations for data management and encourages other subcontract precision engineering businesses to invest time in this aspect, as it paves the way for further improvements.

“We now have one version of the truth. Processing times have reduced and there is no lost information as there was with our previous paper-based system. We are more confident with our quoting, can process more orders and now have the controls in place to become ISO 9001 accredited,” she concludes.