In the competitive world of subcontract precision engineering, staying ahead of the curve is paramount to success. For K & M Precision Engineering Limited, a family-run business based in Lancashire, the quest for efficiency and growth has led to investment in a PSL Datatrack production control software system.

Founded in 1998 by Kevin Taylor and his father Malcom, K & M boasts a proud 25-year legacy in the subcontract precision engineering sector. With 13 dedicated team members, including Kevin as the Owner and Managing Director, his daughter Denise Dunderdale as the Administration Director and his son-in-law Robert Murphy as the Operations Director, the company has established a reputation as a reliable provider of CNC machined components across a variety of industries.

Before embracing PSL Datatrack, K & M relied on manual quoting methods and business administration procedures. This approach caused many challenges, primarily the need to duplicate information across the board. These inefficiencies were becoming a serious bottleneck, hindering business growth and operational efficiency.

K & M’s production control software journey began with a simple Google search. The company’s leadership team were seeking a solution that could streamline operations, reduce duplication of work and provide a robust system for tracking works orders and costs. PSL Datatrack was swiftly identified as the resolution to these challenges.

Denise comments that the implementation of PSL Datatrack was a “smooth and collaborative effort.” Following a slick demonstration of the software, PSL Datatrack was installed and adopted by key personnel in a number of departments, including administration, accounts and sales.

During the implementation, PSL Datatrack worked closely with K & M to tailor the system to its existing workflow with a particular focus on the company’s process layouts. These detailed sheets provide a complete engineering specification to the shop floor and PSL Datatrack’s effort ensured a seamless transition with minimal disruption to K & M’s daily activities.

The adoption of PSL Datatrack resulted in a number of significant organisational benefits for K & M. “The administration process now runs much more smoothly, with all historical data stored in one centralised location. This streamlined approach allows us to efficiently manage and track repeat work,” says Denise.

K & M also discovered unexpected advantages of PSL Datatrack. A significant time-saving was noted when booking in purchase orders and tracing material back to the correct works order. These unforeseen benefits have further contributed to efficiency and overall productivity.

While K & M has not explicitly monitored its quoting success rate, the company has experienced sustained growth over the past year. Denise confirms that this can be attributed to efficiency improvements with PSL Datatrack alongside other external factors.

Looking forward, K & M plans to extend its utilisation of PSL Datatrack by implementing the Sequential Scheduler module, which is designed to calculate start and end dates for all operations belonging to active works orders and to determine whether any cost centres are over capacity. This will allow the company to plan times and schedules per machine and provide better forecasting to its customer base.

For K & M, the journey towards operational excellence and growth in the subcontract precision engineering industry has been significantly empowered by PSL Datatrack production control software. The system has not only streamlined the company’s administrative processes but has also improved traceability, efficiency and overall productivity.

“With a future focus on scheduling and forecasting, K & M Precision Engineering Limited is poised to continue its upward trajectory with PSL Datatrack as a valued partner,” concludes Denise. The company’s commitment to quality and its relationship with PSL Datatrack reflect a forward path that promises a sustained legacy of growth and success.