Bimba Manufacturing announces a major Business Process Improvement (BPI) initiative to further elevate its performance and deliver exceptional service and value to its customer base.
Bimba is implementing a “next generation” Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, using the Oracle® E-Business Suite, to streamline its business processes and enable future business growth. The implementation covers all key processes including product configuration, engineering design, sales order management, manufacturing, quality management, and distribution.
As part of its ERP project, Bimba is expanding its implementation of Lean Manufacturing and Just-In-Time (JIT) principles to improve operations efficiency and increase manufacturing flexibility.
The Oracle Applications will enable Bimba to transact business seamlessly over the Web using advanced Product Configurator, e-Commerce and Customer/Supplier Collaboration tools.
David Gillhouse, Bimba’s Information Technology Director, says, “Our objective is to streamline business processes using Oracle Applications as the technology enabler. Our project team is extremely excited about the benefit potential. By streamlining our processes we expect to significantly reduce quote-to-ship lead time, improve customer service, improve manufacturing output, and increase employee productivity.”
The Oracle implementation is viewed as a strategic investment by Bimba’s Executive Management team. Pat Ormsby, Bimba President, explains: “The Oracle deployment will facilitate major business process improvement to support sustained, profitable business growth. It will help our company, and our valued distributors and customers, become more successful in the future.”
Bimba has engaged Lucidity Consulting Group, a Certified Advantage partner in the Oracle PartnerNetwork, to assist with the ERP/BPI initiative. Bimba recently completed a “Phase 0” Process Modeling program with Lucidity. Key business processes were simulated using the Oracle Applications to gain insight into the new methods and the associated benefits. Detailed implementation plans were then developed for software deployment and physical operations improvements.
Martin Gibson, Lucidity’s BPI Practice Director, praises Bimba’s “Phase 0” effort: “First we took a comprehensive picture of the business and identified major improvement opportunities. We then simulated future processes using Oracle Flow Manufacturing, Oracle Advanced Supply Chain Planning and other ERP applications. We were able to demonstrate major efficiency gains and cost reductions through streamlined methods and physical operating changes.”
Gibson says, “Bimba will be able to deploy these new techniques rapidly in the implementation phase, enabling a rapid Return on Investment. Additionally, the tools and processes can support significant business growth, not only for the next 1-2 years, but for the next decade and beyond. All processes and technology are highly scalable to support future growth.”
In “Phase 0,” significant emphasis was also placed on piloting Bimba-specific models in the Oracle Configurator. When fully implemented, distributors and their customers will be able to design and sell new products in real-time, collaborate over the Web, and place orders electronically with no human intervention. This will help reduce cycle time, order errors, and costs for all parties involved.
Lois Wortley, Oracle Vice President, Configurator Development says, “It is exciting to see a company like Bimba fully embrace the Oracle E-Business Suite to increase the flexibility and productivity of their manufacturing operations. Additionally, the company’s deployment of Oracle Configurator will support more efficient business methods and promote a closer relationship with distributors and customers.”
Bimba is deploying a time-phased implementation strategy for its three main business units. Mead Fluid Dynamics will be the first business unit implemented (target completion 3rd quarter of 2009). This will be followed by TRD (end of 2009), and Bimba (2nd quarter of 2010). Bimba plans to extend Oracle ERP capabilities to its distributors once internal deployment is completed.
Bimba
www.bimba.com
Filed Under: Pneumatic equipment + components, ENGINEERING SOFTWARE, Motion control • motor controls