in2grate supplies integrated software suite to market-leading fast-track buildings solutions provider

software solution provider, in2grate, has supplied its d2order fully integrated software package to Northern Irelands award-winning fast-track building solutions provider, The McAvoy Group. For over 32 years, the Group has been an established producer of modular buildings in steel and timber-frame. Earlier this year, the Groups commitment to developing its International market was recognised with a Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

In addition to its manufacturing operation in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, the company recently established a new manufacturing plant in Lisburn, also in Northern Ireland. The investment in the site, worth around 5 million, was backed by local business investment body, Invest NI, and supported through the Northern Ireland Technology Centre at Queens University. This site is being used exclusively for the manufacture of the McAvoy SafeSpace Anti-vandal product range This is a particularly strong and fast-growing market for the company. McAvoy realised early on that it required a flexible and fully integrated software package for these new premises, said E-Business Manager, Aidan Walsh. This was both to ensure full advantage was made of the fresh-start opportunity it had at Lisburn, and in order to ensure all business process were handled in the most cost-effective and efficient way possible.

McAvoy invited 12 companies to tender for the IT software contract. The list was then reduced to two potential suppliers. Both companies were then asked to give a presentation to McAvoy senior management. After the presentations, McAvoy made the decision to source d2order.

Walsh commented on the purchase agreement: The decision to source d2order was made partly due to McAvoy staff having seen a d2order demonstration at Queens University, Northern Ireland last year. As a consequence, McAvoy became aware of the scope of joined-up functionality offered by d2order everything from cost estimation and design, through to manufacturing, shop floor scheduling and shipping. In particular, the rules-based sales and product specification functionality was something that McAvoy knew would benefit the company in a major way; by accurately costing and actioning projects, determining lead times quickly and accurately, and providing rapid feedback to the customer.

Implementation of d2order began on 11 October, and a go-live date of May 2005 is anticipated. Bob Clements, in2grate Managing Director, said of the contract: I am delighted that d2order has been recognised by the McAvoy Group as a comprehensive engineer-to-order solution, and as such as the optimum solution for the companys needs at its LIsburn plant. As orders for the companys SafeSpace product range continues to grow, d2order - with its wide-ranging and totally integrated functionality encompassing everything from sales estimates to production scheduling and delivery - will enhance the efficiency of every department, from sales through to design, manufacture and shipping.