Exel News Stories

National Autoparts orders EFACS ERP system
Press Release, August 2004

National Autoparts - the leading UK clutch re-manufacturer and brake disc manufacturer - has ordered the EFACS fully integrated ERP system from Exel Computer Systems.

Chosen because it matched National Autoparts' requirements better than anything else on the market, the EFACS system will go live in two phases - one in the second week of May and one in mid-July.

National's Managing Director David Houlden says: "With the increasing demands of supplying quality products backed by a first class service, and with 97% plus availability across extensive product ranges, we have to keep ahead of our competitors. Last year we saw a 16% increase in our business and our first quarter this year was a record trading period, seeing a 20% increase on last year. In choosing Exel Computer Systems, we feel this will be a major advantage, enabling National to achieve continued growth and improved customer service."

The Exel system is replacing an existing AS400 based bespoke system that was implemented 15 years ago and written around National's business at that time - predominantly re-manufactured automotive clutch components. The shape of the business has changed considerably over recent years and re-manufacturing in the UK now represents around 15% of National's business. With new product manufactured in joint venture factories around the world, the Nottingham operation has become the centre for European distribution.

"This is a significant order for Exel because it underlines how EFACS is able to handle even complex and unorthodox production systems" John Ellis

Says Technical Director Andrew Clay: "We have a fragmented IT system in terms of some departments, for example the buying department isn't integrated into the system, so we decided we needed to look for a fully integrated ERP solution.

"After researching a lot of systems, we chose EFACS because it can handle complex manufacturing situations. Whereas we don't do a lot of manufacturing compared to the rest of our business, what we do is complicated. Re-manufacturing throws up all sorts of scenarios that aren't dealt with under normal production circumstances and we needed a system that could cope with that."

Because re-manufacturing is driven bottom up rather than sales demand top down, it was essential that any new system could monitor the availability of core items, ie old units used to form the bulk of the bill of materials. Which units are in stock influences how production is routed.

When fully implemented, the EFACS management information system will integrate all the functions of the business, giving National Autoparts vastly improved warehouse management functionality, greater efficiency and control, improved accuracy, access to up-to-date information, and the ability to keep stock levels to a tighter level than was previously possible rather than overstocking in certain areas.

Says John Ellis, Managing Director of Exel Computer Systems: "This is a significant order for Exel because it underlines how EFACS is able to handle even complex and unorthodox production systems. Also, National Autoparts is an internationally recognised organisation and we are delighted to be playing a part in keeping them at the top of their sector."