Temperature Controls Case Study

Key Challenges

• Poor support for their existing systems.
• Lack of functionality and flexibility in the then-installed systems to support the business growth plans.
• No access available for remote users.
• A stand-alone manufacturing system.

Project Objectives

• A system which required no IT staff.
• Consolidation of all systems into the one image provided by Business One.
• Screens and reports which reflect the company’s modus operandi.

Solution & Services

• ERP Solution
• Inecom Business consultancy to implement the full range of financial, manufacturing and distribution functions.

Key Benefits

• Discipline and accuracy.
• Drawings and specifications in quotation and orders provide clear communication between customers and the manufacturing plant.
• Authorisation levels force all staff to conform to company procedures.
• XL Reporter delivering on-demand management data.

Web Address

• www.temperature.com.au

“Business One has delivered the benefits which we expected – but much earlier than we could have hoped.”
Phillip Lonsdale,
Managing Director

Client Profile

Established in 1988 in Sydney, Australia, Temperature Controls Pty Ltd is an independent, management owned manufacturing company specialising in the production of temperature and level sensors for all industries and applications.

Temperature Controls is Australia’s largest stockist of Thermocouples, and RTD sensors which are temperature measuring devices used in applications where small temperature differences need to be measured with high accuracy. The range of products include Process Controllers, Signal Conditioners, Thermowells, Liquid Level Switches, Temperature Gauges and Extension Cables in single, multi pair and steel wired armour configuration. As well as providing catalogue items to industry, the company is unique in the Australian market in that they use sophisticated in-house manufacturing techniques such as CNC lathes, centre lathes and gundrilling techniques to respond to specific demands from industry requiring components on short lead times.

Temperature Controls has sites in both Sydney and Melbourne. The Sefton facility in Sydney is a modern, well equipped, 1500m² factory where manufacture, machining, mechanical assembly and testing of components is carried out to customers’ specifications and requirements. They have over 1000 customers - typically coming from Refractories (e.g. Shinagawa), Oil (e.g. Woodside and BHP), Smelters/Steel making (e.g. Queensland Nickel) – indeed any organisation where accurate temperature measurement and control is vital. Hotplates in McDonald’s are a very visible example! Their ISO 9001 Quality accreditation and International Certification for the production of temperature sensors for Hazardous Areas have been key to providing the quality and service levels that such customers expect. 

The problems of growth and their resolution

As Temperature Controls steadily expanded, they realised that the management of the business was becoming difficult. Software packages which they used were disconnected, and in some cases, support for these packages was dwindling.

In mid 2006, they sought a solution for their business problems and evaluated a range of ERP software offerings. Managing Director, Philip Lonsdale, stated that his decision criteria were:

• Support into the future
• The recognition of his specific requirements – and the delivery of a specific solution
• A requirement for minimal IT staff
• A rapid return on investment
• A system that would allow users in Sydney or Melbourne to obtain all the details easily on a customer, order, or stock item

The company finally selected SAP’s Business One, to be implemented by Inecom.

The Immediate Benefits

With rapid implementation to-time and to-budget and with clean data conversion for their 17 users in Sales, Manufacturing and Distribution, Administration and Management, Temperature Controls is already experiencing major gains.

• The integration of all functions within Business One has brought discipline and accuracy.
• Screens and reports have been designed to reflect Temperature Controls’ specific modus operandi
• Establishment of authorisation levels makes the quotation and purchasing functions conform smoothly to company procedures.
• Efficiencies in the sales order / works order processing removes areas of duplicating data entry.
• Drawings and specifications are attached to quotations and sales orders for clarity and clear communication with their customers and workshop.
• The use of XL Reporter is now providing management data – e.g. the control of Work-in-Progress and the timeliness of deliveries.