JJ Food Service is up again for Wholesaler of the Year

Wholesaler of theYear

Congratulations to the 2010 shortlist!


http://www.thegrocergoldawards.co.uk/page/shortlist_2010.html


Bestway



Booker



Henderson Wholesale



JJ Food Service



Parfetts Cash & Carry

LOTUS RACING APPOINTS EBECS LTD TO KEEP ITS SOFTWARE SYSTEMS ON TRACK FOR THE 2010 F1™ SEASON

Microsoft Business Solutions partner eBECS has been appointed by Lotus Racing to deliver a flexible software solution based on Microsoft Dynamics AX that will satisfy its demanding short term needs and also support its long term strategy.

eBECS was the partner of choice for Lotus Racing because of its experience in the automotive industry and its ability to implement successful and demanding Microsoft Dynamics solutions within short time frames.

Bill Peters, Head of IT, Lotus Racing, explains, “We came to the grid with a lot to do in a short time frame. We needed an entirely new solution that would assist in our aim of being ahead of the new teams when we all reach Bahrain, and also to support our objective of being close to the midfield teams after the first few races of the season. Peters continues, “We chose eBECS for their excellent reputation in the automotive industry and also because they took the time to listen carefully to our needs and then proposed a solution that really worked for us”

Stephen Wilson, Marketing Director, eBECS, comments, “We see Lotus as one of the most evocative names in British motor racing and we are thrilled to be working alongside Lotus Racing on such an exciting challenge.”

- ends -
About Lotus Racing
Lotus Racing is the Norfolk based Formula One team headed up by Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes, supported by Mike Gascoyne as Chief Technical Officer. The team was granted its entry into the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championships in September 2009 and since then has appointed Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli as drivers and recently launched its first car in a glittering ceremony in London. For more information about Lotus Racing go to www.lotusracing.my

About eBECS Ltd
Since 1999, eBECS has been providing customers across manufacturing, distribution and the extended supply chain with expertise on how they can utilise Lean and Agile solutions to reduce waste, increase response times and maximise value to their customers. eBECS is proud to state that every one of its customers is fully referenceable.

For further information please contact:
Stephen Wilson
Marketing Director
eBECS Ltd
Enterprise House, The Bridge Business Centre, Beresford Way, Chesterfield, S41 9FG

Mobile: 07775 571110
Tel: 01246 888555
E: swilson@ebecs.com

For further press information and to arrange interviews please contact:
Warren Ryland
Managing Director
Francis Ryland Limited
Mobile: 07748 156 925
Tel: 0800 917 4577
E: warren.ryland@francisryland.com

For Lotus Racing:
Tom Webb
Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 1953 851 411 ext. 1809 / Thomas.webb@lotusracing.my

EBECS LTD APPOINTED BY FOGARTY (FILLED PRODUCTS) LTD TO DRIVE THROUGH EFFICIENCIES IN ITS SUPPLY CHAIN

Microsoft Business Solutions partner eBECS has been appointed by Fogarty to deliver a flexible Microsoft Dynamics AX solution that will dramatically improve the efficiency of its internal processes and support its long term growth plans.

eBECS was the partner of choice for Fogarty because of its specialist supply chain experience in the manufacturing sector, and its successful implementation of many Microsoft Dynamics AX projects.

Gerry Tawton, Finance Director, Fogarty, explains, “In recent years, we have seen significant increases in the service demands of our customers. We pride ourselves on a high level of service and so recognised the need to improve our internal processes to complement those of our customers, enabling us to drive through efficiencies on both sides.” Tawton continues, “We chose eBECS as our technology partner for a number reasons, but primarily we took great confidence from the depth of commitment displayed by all levels of the eBECS team throughout the selection process”.

Stephen Wilson, Marketing Director, eBECS, comments, “eBECS is especially excited about this project because it matches perfectly our core capabilities of manufacturing, supply chain and Microsoft technologies. We are delighted to be able to deliver improved systems to Fogarty and eBECS very much looks forward to working with them on their continued success.

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About Fogarty (Filled Products) Ltd
Fogarty is one of the most famous brands for filled products in the UK. It has manufactured pillows and quilts since 1877 and is dedicated to the highest levels of quality in the filled products industry, ensuring its customers a perfect night's sleep. It is headquartered in Boston, Lincolnshire and supplies a number of major high street retailers.

About eBECS Ltd
Since 1999, eBECS has been providing customers across manufacturing, distribution and the extended supply chain with expertise on how they can utilise Lean and Agile solutions to reduce waste, increase response times and maximise value to their customers. eBECS is proud to state that every one of its customers is fully referenceable.


For further information please contact:
Stephen Wilson
Marketing Director
eBECS Ltd
Enterprise House
The Bridge Business Centre
Beresford Way
Chesterfield
S41 9FG
Mobile: 07775 571110
Tel: 01246 888555
Fax: 01246 888558
E: swilson@ebecs.com


For further press information and to arrange interviews please contact:
Warren Ryland
Managing Director
Francis Ryland Limited
Mobile: 07748 156 925
Tel: 0800 917 4577
E: warren.ryland@francisryland.com

Allgood Plc Customer Success Video

Microsoft Dynamics AX Allgood PLC eBECS Customer Success

Learn how Allgood plc the UK's leading architectural ironmonger in the supply of products for commercial and public buildings have benefited from the eBECS implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX business solution including a 50% reduction in stock, increased control of processes, elimination of costs associated to cancelled orders and increased collaboration with suppliers through the web.

eBECS are a Global Microsoft Gold Partner specialising in the design and delivery of world class lean and agile business solutions using Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Since Allgood's plc inception in 1948 tens of thousands of architectural projects covering many countries around the world have been completed. Examples are:
•Scottish Parliament
•National Assembly for Wales
•Canary Wharf
•Manchester Imperial War Museum
•Emirates Towers, Dubai
•Hong Kong International Airport

Allgood plc comprises of four sites in the UK and one in Hong Kong.

Microsoft Reveals the Power of Dynamic Business at Convergence Europe (see eBECS Customers)

Customers use Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM to capitalize on trends, market shifts.

LONDON — Oct. 27, 2009 — Today at Convergence 2009 Europe, thousands of customers and partners gather to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Dynamic Business vision, and hear more about the bold development road map Microsoft Corp. is introducing for delivering on that vision. Over the course of a sold-out, four-city tour in London, Vienna, Frankfurt and Rotterdam from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5, Microsoft will showcase how it is enabling customers and partners to use modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) software for competitive advantage.

In his keynote address, Kirill Tatarinov, corporate vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS), will reinforce that businesses can implement Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM to help their people be more productive, get better insight and control over their business processes, and embrace connections with others in their ecosystem.

“Microsoft Dynamics delivers the value, simplicity, innovation and choice that allow businesses worldwide to endure, prevail and increase their competitiveness during these challenging economic times,” Tatarinov said. He also announced that all Microsoft Dynamics products are certified to run on Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 as of Oct. 22, 2009, the official launch date for Windows 7.

At the event, customers will learn more about how Microsoft Dynamics embraces trends such as environmental sustainability and social media as well as technology features such as Windows Touch to help address market challenges, regulations and compliance.

For example, companies going green are seeing value in Microsoft Dynamics vertically oriented partners as they look to IT for help in meeting and surpassing industry standards. One partner, Atrion International, is helping companies reduce risks associated with hazardous materials and ensuring regulatory compliance throughout the product life cycle in response to catalyst legislation such as REACH and GHS. Another partner, Prodware, is focused on integrating sustainable development solutions to measure, manage and monitor initiatives.

Microsoft is also highlighting the continued success of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. With more than 1 million users, and industry recognition for the value it is offering to customers globally, Microsoft Dynamics CRM continues to deliver rapid innovation through regular on-demand service updates and CRM Accelerators provided at no additional cost to customers. As further reinforcement of the power of choice, and supported by healthy growth of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online offering in North America, the company announced that the on-demand solution will also be coming to international markets in the second half of 2010.

Examples of dynamic businesses that are using the power of technology to sharpen their competitive edge were highlighted throughout the keynote address, including Portuguese consumer bank Credifin and Spanish Hospital de Torrevieja.

Working with a regional partner, Credifin used Microsoft Dynamics CRM to enable a supermarket chain customer to reach a goal of issuing 1,000 customer loyalty cards in just 12 days. The Hospital de Torrevieja used a Microsoft Dynamics ERP solution to go paperless and send text alerts to reduce patient waiting time by 50 percent compared with other Spanish hospitals, and facilitated faster access to patient records for doctors, which resulted in shorter hospital stays.

Many customers attending the event had switched from competitive solutions to Microsoft Dynamics to better align with the new realities of their businesses:

Allgood (eBECS customer) chose Microsoft Dynamics ERP after 18 months of research, and moved from reactive to proactive management by accurately focusing staff on manufacturing priorities that reduced inventory by 25 percent.

Marshalls PLC (eBECS Customer) switched to Microsoft Dynamics ERP for its adaptability and usability to support growth through acquisition. With the power of Microsoft Dynamics ERP, the landscape services company uses automated lead generation to reap the benefits of acquisitions quickly for its investors.

Play It Again Sam Entertainment Group moved to hosted versions of Microsoft Dynamics ERP and Microsoft Dynamics CRM to achieve targeted marketing campaigns that are made possible by having a shared platform, and a roll-up of management information that takes minutes instead of days with Microsoft Dynamics, according to the company’s CIO, Mal Allerton.

The City of London upgraded to Microsoft Dynamics CRM to have greater flexibility and capacity in delivering services such as event planning and voter management.

The Poupart Group chose Microsoft Dynamics ERP since the solution ensured strong integration with the rest of the company’s IT infrastructure. The year following the implementation, company sales increased by 35 percent, with no additional headcount.

Yuasa Battery Inc. (eBECS customer) implemented Microsoft Dynamics ERP after deciding not to move forward with a competing product. According to the firm’s head of IT, John Cook, the battery manufacturing plant was able to go live in a third of the time, at a fraction of the cost of the previous solution.

eBECS and Friars Pride Ltd put the needs of the customer first using Microsoft Dynamics AX

Microsoft Business Solutions partner eBECS Ltd was appointed by Friars Pride Ltd to deliver a Microsoft Dynamics AX solution that puts its customers’ needs first and simultaneously strengthens and underpins its growth plans.


Friars Pride Ltd is a leading UK supplier to the Fast Food sector in the UK. It is a long-established family company that has experienced consistent growth since its formation some 40 years ago. The company recognised the need for a solid technical foundation to address the ever-changing needs of its customers and to simultaneously support its long term growth plans. Rebecca Lord, Managing Director, explains, “We strive to deliver the highest level of customer service by reacting quickly to changes in customer demand, which is why a strong IT base has been a fundamental factor in our business for many years. We believe this solution from eBECS Ltd is vital for our future growth and we are confident it will create immediate benefits for both Friars Pride Ltd and our customers.”


eBECS was chosen by Friars Pride Ltd primarily because of its specialist experience in the foodservice sector. Furthermore, eBECS’ ability to understand call-centre technology and to integrate it fully with Microsoft Dynamics AX means that Friars Pride has a single integrated solution that seamlessly links call centre operations, web ordering, customer relationship management and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) processes together. Stephen Wilson, Marketing Director, explains, “It was a perfect match between our two companies. eBECS Ltd has worked very successfully with numerous fast-growing food service companies and has the highly specialised call-centre knowledge that Friars Pride Ltd needed. I hope and trust that this is the beginning of a long and successful relationship between our two companies.”

About Friars Pride Ltd
Friars Pride is an independent family owned company, established over 40 years ago in Peterborough. Today the company spans three generations and has grown to be one of the premier suppliers to fish & chip shops, fast food outlets and bakers in the Midlands, South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, the East of England and the South East of England.

About eBECS Ltd
eBECS is a specialist in the design and delivery of world class lean and agile business solutions. Working with customers across manufacturing, distribution and the extended supply chain, we utilise Microsoft Dynamics AX and related technologies to build practical and effective solutions that streamline and integrate processes, minimise waste, optimise the supply chain, and manage demand driven operations.


For further information please contact:

Stephen Wilson
eBECS Ltd
Mobile: 07775 571110
Tel: 01246 888555
E: swilson@ebecs.com


For further press information and to arrange interviews please contact:

Warren Ryland
Francis Ryland
Mobile: 07748 156 925
Tel: 0800 917 4577
E: warren.ryland@francisryland.com

Confidence levels in manufacturing show sharp increase

Manufacturing News, Source : TheManufacturer.com Published : 02 Nov 2009 11:26

Confidence levels in the manufacturing sector jumped in the third quarter, according to new research by accountants and business advisers BDO LLP.
In a survey covering Aerospace & Defence; Food Manufacturing and Distribution; Automotive; Engineering; and Technology, Building Materials, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals across the UK, 49.5% of respondents in Q3 were confident about the outlook for their business over the next six months, a sharp rise from Q2, when 37.3% said they were confident. Thirty-seven per cent of respondents said their confidence levels were unchanged, while just 13.3% said they were negative about the next six months.

Those that do feel gloomy about the prospects for their business over the next six months are largely engineering and technology/electronics businesses — which have been hard hit by the downturn in the automotive and consumer electronics industries. However, two thirds of these businesses intend to invest between one and five per cent of turnover in research and development (R&D), indicating expectations of an upturn in 2010.

Tom Lawton, Head of Manufacturing at BDO Stoy Hayward says: “Although conditions for manufacturers across most sub-sectors remain challenging, confidence levels have seen a significant increase since the last quarter. Our findings show that nearly half are now more confident about the next six months, a clear indicator that they believe a real economic recovery is not far off.”

“Recovery in the sector will probably be a slow process. However, hopes are high that the sector has turned a corner and we are now seeing more consolidation as opposed to contraction, which is further borne out by the recent announcement that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) decreased by 0.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2009, compared with a 0.6 per cent decrease seen in the second quarter.”

Microsoft and eBECS Launch the Lean Centre of Excellence - PLEASE JOIN US

Microsoft and eBECS established the Lean Centre of Excellence to serve as a collaborative facility for organisations looking to utilise Lean capabilities within Microsoft Dynamics AX. Microsoft recognises that a successful Lean implementation is not simply about providing the right software tools; just as important are the skills of the team that architect and deliver the solution.

If you are an organisation considering the implementation of Lean ERP; investigating discrete areas of the functionality to enhance your traditional approach or already a customer using Microsoft Dynamics AX and perhaps looking to adopt the lean functionality; a Microsoft Dynamics Partner interested in achieving the certification required to sell, support and implement the Lean solutions; a Lean Professional interested in helping others by sharing practical experiences or just simply interested in learning what Lean has to offer, then we would encourage you to become a member of this lean community by visiting http://www.leancentreofexcellence.com/ to sign up for free membership.

Becoming a member of this community will provide you with a place to ask questions, share your experiences, access the latest materials and ultimately expand your knowledge. Joining The Lean Centre of Excellence will ensure you are kept up to date with news, events and training opportunities through the Centre. You will also be able to learn about the additional capability that eBECS provides in Lean Manufacturing II, III and the Vendor Portal, which addresses some of the more advanced Lean requirements of a Lean Enterprise including the key Lean requirements for the Automotive, Aerospace & Defence, High Tech and the Medical Devices & Equipment Manufacture sectors.

Microsoft recently acquired the Lean functionality from eBECS and we are now pleased to announce that Lean Manufacturing for Microsoft Dynamics AX became available as a fully integrated Microsoft product on 1st August 2009 for the UK, US and Canada.

Change Management - White Paper including eBECS Customer Allgood

Executive Summary -

Change management has historically been the focus of the most innovative businesses and those in the most competitive industries. The former change to generate competitive advantage, drive market share and reach new customers; the latter change to ensure business continuity, save costs and make operations more agile and responsive.

In the current business climate, however, innovation, business transformation and change management are growing realities for businesses of all sizes and in all industries. In short, if companies don’t adapt to meet changing market and customer needs then they are unlikely to survive in the long term. To investigate the impact of recent changes on business, Microsoft Dynamics® commissioned a comprehensive survey of 500 directors of UK companies with between 50 and 1,000 employees. The survey assessed respondents’ attitudes to change, the effect that change has had, and will have, on their organisations in the current climate. Top line results from the Microsoft Dynamics research are:

• Change is a growing reality for UK business. More than half of UK medium-sized companies (57%) are experiencing more change in their business than a year ago – Companies that are not ready for change and don’t have the infrastructure to cope with change are less likely to be agile and respond successfully to internal and external pressures.

• Change is typically realised in four core areas: changes to technology infrastructure (in 54% of cases), new product and service developments (51%), marketing/brand (48%) and business systems/processes (46%) – Given recent focus on redundancies and the human impact of the recession, businesses appear to be more focused on making
changes to their organisations that will facilitate growth and innovation.

• Changes driven internally within a business are more likely to be successful than those triggered externally – Proactive change made to internal systems and processes is a better bet for success than cutting costs and headcount after the market has already moved.

• UK medium-sized businesses fall into four camps – Change Pioneers (the 37% of respondents that are ahead of the change curve), Change Reactors (28% of businesses that react to external forces rapidly), Change Followers (29% of businesses that wait for a trend to be established before they change) and Change Resisters (3% who resist change at all costs) – The larger the business, the more likely respondents are to be Change Pioneers.

• The more change-aware the business, the more likely they are to consider technology to be an enabler of change. Change Pioneers embrace technology as a driver of change and agility; they are also more likely to have a board or senior management champion of change within their company.

This white paper will draw on these results, business commentary and case studies, including eBECS customer Allgood, to explore the importance of change in the current climate, the different ways that UK businesses approach change and best practice on how to facilitate successful change in your organisation.

To download the white paper please visit http://www.ebecs.com/DynamicsAx.aspx

Lean around the corner - August 1st Go live

Lean Manufacturing for Microsoft Dynamics AX and additional Lean functionality provided by eBECS will be generally available on August 1st 2009.

Microsoft has engaged eBECS to establish the Microsoft Dynamics Lean Centre of Excellence. The mission of the Center is to serve as an educational outreach/training facility for organisations that require training on the Lean capabilities in order to further their Lean initiatives. Microsoft recognises that a successful Lean implementation is not simply about providing the right software tools; as important are the skills of the team that architect and deliver the solution.

The Centre is currently ready to serve the Microsoft partner community for sales and implementation training and is scheduling training for late 2009 for current Microsoft Dynamics customers, as well as companies that are considering Microsoft Dynamics solutions. To register your interest please email customer@ebecs.com

The first partner trainings will be offered in Atlanta, Georgia during in the week of August 17th - 21st, with two back-to-back courses available. An invitation will be sent to Microsoft Partners with registration instructions within the next 10 days. In addition to training, the Centre will also serve as a magnet for collecting new ideas and requirements from existing and future users of Microsoft Dynamics.

The first in a series of articles following the implementation of Lean Manufacturing for Microsoft Dynamics AX to a Medical Equipment Manufacturer

Roll With Lean: New ERP Systems Work With Lean Principles, Not Against Them

Part 1

Synopsys: Lean transformations require transformation of IT systems to reflect the new realities of operation with pull systems, kanbans and the requirement to respond immediately to changes in customer demand.

It's all very well leaning-out your manufacturing and supply chain processes but if your ERP systems aren't up to the job, then all that might happen is that balancing production gets progressively more difficult as your supply chain backs up in a maze of spreadsheets, guesswork and finger-pointing.

The nice part of my job is playing a direct role in helping my customers move their businesses from MRP-driven platforms, usually backed-up with an acre of spreadsheets, to something that closer-reflects how to operate in a Lean environment: Kanbans and all.

I have a customer in the UK who manufactures medical equipment. Over the past five years, they have embodied some of the best aspects of a Lean transformation: not only have they implemented all the best aspects of cellular manufacturing, but their product range has been rationalised in an extremely intelligent manner, combining a simplified range of common product families with a broad market reach for both domestic and export markets. In some cases, product variation can be controlled through a software change alone, such has been the extent of Lean product design.

Unfortunately, the supply chain was creaking and causing a familiar pattern of shortages, expedited deliveries and stock obsolescence, especially for component parts. What had happened was that as the manufacturing areas moved toward cellular production, the MRP system could not adapt. The traditional structure of production orders and MRP had gradually diverged from how the production processes were evolving, while the hard-pressed purchasing manager needed to maintain an alternative set of inventory and demand figures for much of his portfolio.

A significant part of the problem lay in the MRP system's structure. The traditional MRP model of forecast-based demand generating a range of production orders throughout the bill-of-materials didn't match a kanban-based environment where replenishment of finished products, components and key subassemblies was now managed by physical kanban cards. MRP was retained to generate production orders, as much as to generate documentation for the shop floor, as to use the system to consume inventory through backflushing.

The problem was that the generated orders simply did not match what they were making. Orders were created to reflect batch quantities far in excess of the daily capacity and this led to a backlog in system bookings: physical inventory would routinely diverge from system inventory and not only would this lead to problems with the despatch of finished goods, but component and subassembly inventories would diverge far from reality.

Now let's look at purchasing and stores. Here, system inventory could not be relied-upon and this led to the purchasing manager having to initiate regular physical checks of inventory which then had to be loaded into his own spreadsheets which were used to control the supply of key raw materials and components.

This pattern of operation is familiar to many of us. Slowly but inexorably, traditional MRP and production order-based systems fall out of synch with reality and gradually the number of spreadsheets and workarounds increases. System transactions are processed merely in an attempt to keep on-hand values in line with physical inventory and they become increasingly irrelevant as they fail to provide worthwhile information that helps people do their jobs. Meanwhile, as the transactions often fail to reflect the sequence of activities in the shop floor, it becomes increasingly difficult to post the transactions and so the cycle becomes progressively worse.

Some Lean practitioners have an easy solution for this: pull the plug on the MRP system and run things manually either fully or by "phantoming" out parts of the process! Great in theory and for the purist, but not much use in the Real World where we want to manage our business. ERP systems happen to be rather convenient for keeping track of where the business is, not to mention managing the cash and other key assets. What a pity to have a huge black hole in the middle of the whole process!

A better solution might be to implement an ERP system that works with Lean principles rather than against them. The system being implemented by my customer uses electronic kanbans to control the entire internal supply chain, from generating pull-to-order instructions directly from customer orders, through to launching replenishment kanbans to restock inventory throughout the internal supply chain from major subassemblies right down to withdrawing components from the stores.

The benefits of this approach are twofold: first of all, electronic kanban tickets can be set-up to reflect the physical layout of the production area and second, these tickets become transactional documents which can be used to provide feedback immediately they have been satisfied: the pull-to-order tickets for the top-level items can be scanned to perform a real-time update of inventory status, while triggering backflushing transactions if they are required. Similarly, those backflushing transactions can trigger the kanban replenishment of components and subassemblies; again, real-time and ensuring accuracy throughout the internal supply chain.

The key thing is to roll with lean and support it, not fight against it. Lean works and we know it, but traditional ERP systems generally don't get it. There is -shock, horror - still a place for MRP in this process; many companies acknowledge the value of extending the Lean supply chain externally, but often suppliers have to be coaxed to operate within a kanban environment and it may often be a better interim strategy to use traditional reorder management processes to keep the shelves of the main store stocked. It might not be true Lean as the theorists know it, but then again many of them haven't had to deal with your day to day issues, and it is pragmatic. Similarly, MRP can still provide a medium-to-long-term view of requirements to give suppliers an indication of where the market is heading.

My customer will be going live later this summer. Stage One will be to create a manual kanban board so we can schedule the shop floor, allowing us to mix products and level the cells in a visual and intuitive manner. Electronic kanbans still work in the physical world; they give us a traveller to accompany the work and, by carrying barcodes, allows receipts to be booked with minimal effort, thus ensuring that the ERP system maintains an accurate picture of what is going on. We are also developing the Plan For Every Part (PFEP) to ensure we have a clear and easily understood course of action for the supply of materials to the shop floor, while the first preparatory steps towards the generation of purchase kanbans for a pilot group of suppliers are underway.

Our customers have operated ERP with a Lean core for over many years and have succeeded in enhancing their own Lean transformations by operating in an environment where ERP supports Lean and does not work against it. Very soon, one more British manufacturer will join this select group and allow their systems to catch-up with the superb progress they have made with their physical processes.

Please follow this story through the coming months:- It will also be published on the eBECS Customer Update, the Lean eZine.

Neil Ferguson-Lee

NB - Lean Manufacturing for Microsoft Dynamics and additional Lean functionality provided by eBECS will be generally available on August 1st 2009. To find out more please visit www.leancoe.com

Lean & Green Manufacturing: Real Solutions to Cost Cutting - FREE On demand recorded webinar

Missed the live webcast on June 23rd? Watch the recording online or download for offline viewing

Click to watch the recorded Microsoft Dynamics webcast: Lean and Green Manufacturing: Real Solutions to Cut Costs

Despite being around for decades, most manufacturers have still not implemented Lean manufacturing processes and systems to their advantage. Many more still do not understand how to improve operations and manage energy consumption without available environmental performance indicators. With current economic conditions, government regulations and the importance of cutting costs and improving customer service, going "Lean & Green" are the vehicles to accelerate you past your competitors.

Discover

• Why Lean is a must-have business initiative in this economic crisis.
• What solutions are available to support your lean initiatives and environmental sustainability
• How companies are going "Lean and Green" for greater advantages

Click to watch the recorded Microsoft Dynamics webcast: Lean and Green Manufacturing: Real Solutions to Cut Costs.

Customer Success - Live Metals

Major Global Metals Manufacturer Go Live on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009

eBECS' customer, a Major Global Metals Manufacturer has successfully implemented the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 business solution for 550 staff. The company replaced a 25-year old AS/400 system with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 providing workflow, real-time reporting and a degree of integration and data accessibility that simply was not possible under the old system.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 was chosen because of its high degree of flexibility, depth of functionality and the clear product lifecycle backed by Microsoft. eBECS was chosen as the implementation partner because of our in depth industry knowledge and consistant reputation for delivering complex global ERP projects on time and to budget.

Alessa Industries selects eBECS for Business Transformation using Microsoft Dynamics AX

Alessa Industries Company (AIC) selects eBECS to deliver and drive its Business Transformation to a World Class model Utilizing eBECS knowledge of business processes and the latest business tools of Microsoft Dynamic AX

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. - June, 2009 - Alessa Industries Company (AIC) a leading manufacturer and distributor of world brands for air conditioning solutions and home appliances in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, employing more than 1500 people, has chosen eBECS Limited to deliver its business transformation to a world class business model. Alessa will align its supply chain processes, resources and supporting technology platform based on Microsoft Dynamics AX, to match market and customer demand and needs, enabling AIC to consolidate its local market and extend its reach in the Middle East and beyond.

Recognizing the challenges ahead, the AIC executive team is determined to maximize the returns from AIC brands through innovations and process efficiencies for its entire end to end business model, aligning market demand to manufacturing executions.

"We have selected eBECS because of their proven track record and extensive experience in Manufacturing, Distribution and total supply chain automation, which in my view are critical requirements in our selection process. The eBECS team was able to map our business model and define our business blueprint within short timescales. They have provided us with the road map to begin the transformation process, adopting best practice" said Ahmed Al Omari, CEO of AIC.

"We are proud and delighted to be selected by AIC for its Business Transformation journey and our aim is to enable AIC to set the standards for the market. eBECS will utilize its business and technology expertise to help remove waste in process and material functions, improve efficiencies and provide strict financial controls. The AIC management team will have the right business KPIs for them to monitor business performance and adjust production and services to match market conditions. During this project eBECS will utilize the full power of Microsoft Dynamics AX in order to help provide AIC with the business tools needed to manage it business process" said Mr. Sam Sammour, Chairman of eBECS Group.

About eBECS
eBECS is a specialist in the design and delivery of world class lean and agile business solutions. We pride ourselves on the value we provide to customers seeking enhanced business performance through the application of business consulting and business technology. Working with customers across manufacturing, distribution and the extended supply chain, we utilize Microsoft technologies to build practical and effective solutions that streamline and integrate processes, minimize waste, optimize the supply chain, and manage demand driven operations.
# # #





For more information:
Stephen Wilson, eBECS, +44 7775 571110, swilson@ebecs.com
Atallah Yousef, eBECS, +966554150048, ayousef@ebecs.com

For more information about Alessa Industries Company:
Visit: http://www.alessa.com.sa/

For more information about eBECS Limited:
Visit: http://www.ebecs.com/

For more information about eBECS customer successes:
Visit: http://www.ebecs.com/CaseStudies.aspx

For more information about Microsoft Dynamics AX:
Visit http://www.ebecs.com/DynamicsAx.aspx

For more information about the Lean Enterprise:
Visit http://www.ebecs.com/LeanManufacturing.aspx

# # #


Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Microsoft Dynamics Webcast: Lean and Green Manufacturing: Real Solutions to Cut Costs

eBECS is pleased to invite you to the FREE Microsoft Dynamics Webcast
Lean and Green Manufacturing - Real Solutions to Cut Costs

Tuesday, June 23rd

11:00 am (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

19:00 UK Time (BST)

Hear a panel discussion detailing:

* Why Lean is a must-have business initiative in this economic crisis.

* What solutions are available to support your lean initiatives and environmental sustainability.

* How companies are going "Lean and Green" for greater advantages

Lean Manufacturing for Microsoft Dynamics AX will be general availability in August 2009 - attend the webcast to learn more.

Register here for this free webcast

Although lean manufacturing practices have been around for decades, most manufacturers have still not implemented lean manufacturing processes and systems to their advantage. Many more manufacturers still do not understand how to improve operations and manage energy consumption without available environmental performance indicators. With current economic conditions, government regulations, and the importance of cutting costs and improving customer service, going "lean and green" are the vehicles to accelerate you past your competitors. Attend this webcast to learn why lean is a must-have business initiative in this economic crisis, what solutions are available to support your lean initiatives and environmental sustainability, and how companies are going lean and green for competitive advantages.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn how your company can leverage Lean processes and systems right away just as WIKA has done!

Sponsored by Microsoft Dynamics

JJ Food Service wins Wholesaler of the year

JJ Foodservice, a £117m-sales catering specialist, triumphed over cash and carry giants Booker and Palmer & Harvey and foodservice behemoths Brakes and 3663.

JJ Foodservice started out supplying to kebab shops. Today it's branched out to supply local authorities and even won a new £2.5m contract on the day of the awards to supply Derbyshire County Council.

"Tonight proved resoundingly that big isn't always best," said Adam Leyland, editor of The Grocer. "I wouldn't go so far as to say there's a new world order, but the credit crunch has destabilized the market and created new opportunities. Combined with a bit of good old-fashioned entrepreneurialism, smaller companies can outfox their larger rivals.

http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=200778

JJ Foodservice use the Microsoft Dynamics AX business solution implemented by eBECS, together with the eBECS Call Centre Management software eDCCM. To find out more please visit http://www.ebecs.com/EDCCM.aspx