Lantek helps manufacturers and customers build a digital link for their mutual benefit

By Rob Powell, Commercial Director, Lantek UK

At the heart of the Synergy Intelligence concept are the Lantek Expert and Lantek Flex3D solutions which are powerful CAD/CAM products capable of nesting parts for maximum material utilisation and are capable of programming virtually every type of sheet metal machinery, enabling it to operate at its optimum level.  With these systems, it is easy to mix multiple parts from multiple customers in the same nest so that production can manage the complexity of a rapidly changing order book, while loading the machinery and manufacturing resources to deliver parts and assemblies on time and at the right cost.

Surrounding these core software systems Lantek offers a whole range of packages aimed at delivering the highest efficiency within the manufacturer’s plant, enabling him to deliver accurate quotations extremely quickly and manage the relationship with the customer, checking on order levels and repeat business, to provide the best possible service and maximise customer retention by detecting the potential loss of a customer.

Within the workshop Lantek MES can report back on the status of any job in real time from the machines themselves and from manual operations such as assembly. The system is also able to check and administer job loading and advise when a job should be launched onto the shop floor to meet delivery deadlines. As production progresses, it is also able to compare actual with planned costs to ensure that every job is profitable.

For purchasing and manufacturing management, Lantek’s software is able to place orders when minimum stock levels are reached, keep track of prices and control processes such as subcontracting.  As well as controlling the purchasing and manufacture of parts and assemblies for customers, specific functions within the software are designed to meet the requirements of companies making their own products for example, checking on stock levels of particular components and managing bills of material.

An important function of the system is the analytics that managers can interrogate. These include the ability to examine the profile of customers and their order history, the OEE of equipment within plants, its availability, maintenance and breakdown figures, stock levels to avoid material shortages and many other reports aimed at optimising performance and profit.

For major customers Lantek has the ability to integrate directly with the customer’s MRP system, instantly updating the customer’s order requirements as they change. The volume of parts a major customer orders can make it difficult to cope with a sudden surge in production requirements. Lantek has Advanced Planning software which solves this problem by monitoring consumption of parts by the customer and anticipating a sudden large order, providing solutions such as parts stocking or reserving capacity to meet the demand.

At every stage the analytics reports back on the status of production and the efficiency of the plant and resources. Managers can see for themselves how their factory is performing when these difficult conditions arise, making sure that the customer is satisfied and reinforcing his reliance on the manufacturer as a preferred supplier.

With these analytics tools it is possible to view and plan the manufacturing process as a whole, taking into account many factors including manufacturing technology, materials, quality, clients’ requirements and even the distance to delivery point for single and multi-plant operations. This makes it possible for companies to become integrated with both their suppliers and customers forming a supply chain that will foster customer loyalty and guaranteed levels of business.

The development of its new product, Metal Shop, is the next stage in the process, allowing all customers to interact with the manufacturer online, requesting quotations, asking for specific delivery dates and instantly getting an accurate price for the job and then placing the order all from their desktop. This goes much further than an online ordering system as it interacts with all the other Lantek software to consider factors such as material availability, shop loading for all the processes involved, subcontracting and bought in parts. This integration ensures that manufacture of the job is possible and that delivery on the required date will happen.

Already industries such as automotive and aerospace use supply chain integration to order and schedule parts from their suppliers.  The combination of Lantek’s analytics, its intelligent manufacturing software and its integration tools will make this a capability that all companies can benefit from. This will encourage the building of a much closer and longer term relationship between customer and manufacturer, creating synergy between the two parties and hence greater levels of business.