Access Supply Chain and two of its customers, Plymouth Gin and Crosby Kitchens, have won major honours at the 2007 Best of British Manufacturing IT Awards

The companies were presented with their awards in front of an audience of senior manufacturers at a ceremony at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.  Distiller, Plymouth Gin was the winner of the category for 'best use of IT in supply chain management', while Sheffield-based kitchen manufacturer, Crosby Kitchens, was highly commended in the category for 'best use of IT in manufacturing and business management'.

The judges said the companies received their trophies not only for manufacturing and business excellence through the use of good IT, intelligently implemented, but also for their achievements in terms of hard, measurable return on investment and business benefits.

They commented: "Plymouth Gin now has a turnover of £4.3 million, 13 per cent annual revenue growth and a planned increase in production of 700 per cent - all with just 12 full-time employees. That's all due to slick and automated processes across departmental and company boundaries resulting from its Access Supply Chain implementation.
 
"Sheffield-based Crosby Kitchens increased sales by 20 per cent in the last year with the same workforce due to its new Access Supply Chain solution," they added.

Craig Such, managing director for Access Supply Chain commented: "We are delighted with the results of the Awards; they acknowledge the achievements of our customers, Crosby Kitchens and Plymouth Gin, and recognise the flexibility of the Access Supply Chain solution through its successful implementation in two very different industry sectors."

Plymouth Gin's production manager, Paul Chilarecki, said: "This is a fantastic award for us; ours is not a typical manufacturing business and the Access Supply Chain solution allows our people to exercise their skill and judgement whilst knowing the data they're working with is entirely accurate."

Mark Hopkinson, production manager for Crosby Kitchens, added: "Winning the award acknowledges a lot of hard work by our staff; kitchens are very much a fashion item and the Access Supply Chain solution allows us to launch five or six new ranges a year."

The Best of British Manufacturing IT Awards are aimed at recognising the very best IT strategies and implementations in British manufacturing industry. The Awards are designed to promote the critical business value of IT, across functions and departments, in underpinning and enabling superior business processes, competitiveness and profitability for UK companies.  The Best of British Manufacturing IT Awards are independently judged by a senior panel of consultants, analysts, practitioners and operations directors.