Confectionery firm is on the right wavelength for control
Confectionery firm Swizzels Matlow has overhauled its supply chain operations, rolling out radio frequency scanning and supply chain software offering greater stock visibility and control across its three warehouses.
The Integrated Logistics Solutions (ILS) software from Manhattan Associates was implemented initially at Swizzels Matlow's distribution centre in Adlington, Cheshire, replacing a paper-based format. The business said the previous process was not sophisticated enough to handle recent growth in weekly stock turnover, which now exceeds 1,000 pallets. Investment in the new system took place after Swizzels Matlow had extended the Adlington depot by 10%. Manhattan Associates offers 24/7 support for its software and Swizzels Matlow is extending it to its export and packaging warehouse at its New Mills headquarters in Derbyshire, 10 miles from Adlington.
The system has speeded up order processing and boosted visibility of its long-standing branded products, which range from Love Hearts to New Refreshers, said a spokesman.
"Implementation took three months from kick-off to touchdown and we were fully operational and hit all our numbers within three days of installation," he added. "We are seeing less downtime and less paperwork. It directs drivers, so our stocks are never running empty and follows our stock rotation system so we can move from job to job in a prioritised sequence."
The system worked in tandem with newly adopted radio frequency technology, tracking pallets via barcode scans and providing real time online updates that could be accessed remotely, he added. "It gives very accurate numbers with regard to stock availability."
Once a food processor had installed the ILS software, it could tailor it to perform specific functions, said Swizzels Matlow.
"Swizzels Matlow is bucking the trend and is experiencing continued growth in demand for its products," said Allen Scott, UK md for Manhattan Associates. "The deployment of Manhattan's solution will ensure the firm can capably handle the current level of customer demand at the same time as equipping Swizzels Matlow for future growth."
