SSL WinMan delivers its WinMan.NET ERP solution to John Gosnell and Company Ltd the independent cosmetic house

With a company pedigree stretching back to 1677, John Gosnell has a hard won reputation for quality and versatility, supplying products either in bulk or in bespoke packaging, with the flexibility of minimal set-ups allowing for all levels of production runs. In addition to its extensive manufacturing and production capabilities, the company also has comprehensive Research and Development facilities where it designs products to customer’s individual requirements.

When John Gosnell needed to update its aging ERP system, it turned to SSL WinMan for a solution that was more than skin deep. Director Christopher Warner describes the main reasons behind the change. “Our existing systems were a mixture of Access databases, various legacy spreadsheets, manual forms and a limited Accounts package. In that extent we had lots of data but this was held in disconnected islands of information with all the inherent problems associated with that. After completing an MBA, I recognised that we could achieve a whole new level of stock management, performance measurement and work flow visibility through a fully integrated, flexible yet powerful ERP solution.”

After a thorough review of a number of potential systems, WinMan from SSL WinMan was chosen for its intuitive interface as well as offering the optimum combination of stock management, relationship management, product traceability and work flow that Gosnell required. Moreover, being built completely on .NET technology, WinMan represented a prudent long term investment by being future proof and also offering a secure development route. Gosnell was particularly impressed with the work flow or process events functionality within WinMan. The system automatically issues alerts and action requests at pre-determined process points for input from anywhere in the company which ensures that in a market where nothing less than the highest levels of quality are acceptable, every process step has to be completed and recorded. 

In addition to the anticipated benefits of greater stock and production control along with increased visibility in all areas of the company, WinMan has also become the rightful source of all expert knowledge within the company. Previously, availability of specialist knowledge was limited by function to a few key people which would create bottlenecks in work flow. By incorporating this knowledge into WinMan, key personnel will be freed up to invest their energies both more efficiently and more effectively.

Warner enthusiastically concludes: “WinMan has at its heart a proven ‘joined-up and togetherness’ while remaining completely flexible to meet our existing needs and those which may arise in the future. It will help us build upon our existing high standards for quality and customer service.”

The system is anticipated to go live in early 2008.