Rapidly changing technology and an expanding business has led juke box manufacturer, Sound Leisure, to introduce a new ERP-based software solution.  The benefits are set to transform the efficiency of the operation.

Sound Leisure designs and manufactures digital juke boxes for the leisure trade, as well as custom hand built reproduction classic juke boxes, costing upwards of £4,000 and popular with well-healed customers including premiership footballers, movie actors and other international celebrities and dignitaries.

Based in Leeds with a turnover of £9 million and employing 150 people, the company is expanding rapidly - in recent years it has moved to larger premises and introduced a range of retail display and audio solutions for high street chains such as the Arcadia Group.  This sector of the business is offering major growth potential.

Technology in the industry moves extremely fast and the company's existing IT system is unable to cope with the demands of the business as it expands and diversifies.  It is implementing Access Supply Chains' integrated manufacturing software solution and it is anticipated that the 20-user system, which goes live in July, will deliver massive benefits.

Sound Leisure's digital juke boxes and retail solutions are dependent on PC technology and components can become obsolete within six months.  All changes to BoMs will be recorded in the system's central database improving the sales and purchase order processes (previously manual and prone to misinterpretation), as well as the company's service function. 

Mike Black, director of production and logistics: "In the days of vinyl and CD it wasn't a problem but now because technology moves so fast, we have to be right on top of things. The Access system will give us a clear historic view of components installed in all Sound Leisure products, which supplier they came from and details of compatible replacement items where components have gone end-of-line.  We have been greatly impressed by the capability to analyse information across the entire organisation in real time; we anticipate the centralised data and reduction in paperwork will save us a day a week across the business."

The Access system will allow the company to meet the increasing demands of its retail customers to provide detailed monthly reports on the status of it systems - how many have been installed, how many on order, expected delivery dates and so on.  Currently taking an average of four days to compile, the reports will be raised and emailed to clients automatically.  Sound Leisure eventually plans to introduce password access to the system to give customers a real-time view of their account.

Mike Black says involving the company's staff in the implementation was critical and that was a key factor in the decision to choose the Access solution; the supplier has a clear 10 step implementation plan which involves workshops with staff at all levels. 

"We have a very low staff turnover and a lot of the mission critical information is in the heads of our key personnel or on their own databases.  It was important they recognised that sharing information with others was going to free them up from unnecessary admin and let them get on with doing their jobs.  They are very enthusiastic about it.  If it gives them an extra 20 minutes a day just to take a look at what's going on in the company and the products we're selling, that's great because it means they're better informed when they speak to customers."