Major Auto Parts Manufacturer Implements Blue ERP Solution

Blue Fountain has implemented a Blue ERP solution for a Brussels based major Japanese automotive parts manufacturer, Koito Europe NV. 

The Blue ERP application provides a web based  automated sales management tool which combines purchase and sales order processing, dispatch and shipment of goods, goods received, invoice generation and account handling in a fully integrated  and globally visible system.

Customer Profile:
Koito Europe supplies parts to over 20 car manufacturing plants throughout Europe.  Parts are produced and shipped from the company's two factories located in the UK and the Czech Republic.

Solution Summary
The Blue ERP solution delivered handles over 13,000 orders 24/7 from 20 clients throughout Europe.  These orders are received by e-mail, by fax and by EDI (from 11 clients).  The system processes each order sending the purchase order generated to the appropriate factory in either the UK or Czech Republic.  As each order is filled the shipping information from the factories is entered into Blue ERP allowing real time order tracking.  The goods received function allows Blue ERP to provide integrated invoice generation for both the customer and the producing factory with a self bill facility.
 
Business Issue
Koito Europe has a particularly complex supply chain with parts being produced both in the UK and the Czech Republic.  Each of these factories was working independently of each other accepting orders, shipping goods and issuing sales invoices separately.  This was not the most effective business model and the decision was made to centralize the order processing and invoicing functions.

A new company was formed in Belgium in November 2004 to undertake this role.  A key requirement of this new company was a solution which would deliver a central access point that provided visibility, control and overall management of the whole sales order process from receipt of the order to final invoice generation.

Blue Fountain Systems was selected as the preferred supplier based on the companies extensive experience of delivering customized business solutions at a cost comparable to leading off-the-self packages.  BFS consultants spent time with the customer staff in an envisioning and scoping workshop to determine the key goals and criteria for the Blue ERP system.  From this BFS were able to tailor the  Blue ERP modules to meet the exact requirements of the customers specification.

System Structure: 

Benefits:
 
 Improved customer service by provision of accurate and real time responses
 Better control of inventory costs
 Reduced errors by duplicate data entry
 Complete order tracking including work in process, shipping and invoicing
 Improved financial control
 Globally visible sales process
 Web based system is accessible remotely