Who is BPIC?

Who are we?
BPIC (the business performance improvement consultancy) was set up by Phil Robinson in 1994 to help manufacturing and distribution companies reach world class standards of business, enterprise and manufacturing resource planning and control. We are software independent so can discuss with you the planning systems most suited to your business. We do not recommend specific software packages but are happy to suggest packages you should include on your short list and companies you can talk to who have used them. We can then help you implement the package looking more at the business needs of the company rather than just how to use the software. The help takes the form of education courses and follow up support including consultancy visits as required. We do run public courses but most companies prefer courses tailored to their specific needs and issues as they are more time and cost effective than the traditional style public courses.

Another large part of our work is helping companies who have already implemented a planning system. Far too often planning and control systems have failed. They have failed because the company did not undertake the the right level of education and training and they have failed because they did not take the appropriate degree of experienced, software independent advice during the implementation.

Nine out of ten successful ERP or MRP II implementations had advice from people not connected to the software but who have personal experience of a number of successful MRP II implementations. It is vital therefore that you use the very best of the experienced advice available. Compare our experience (see BPICs' case studies) with the other people who will effect the outcome of your project.

You can now download a 25 minute audio-visual Business Excellence overview on CD for a nominal £9.50, US$17 or €14. This presentation is for you if you are thinking about implementing an ERP planning system, or have an integrated planning system you would like to make better use of. Click here for more details.

n.b. BPIC has no connection with the BPCS software package from SSA Global This software is now called ERP_LX and SSA is now owned by Infor, see www.ssaglobal.com/solutions/erp/lx.aspx for more details.

BPIC is also not connected to the former BPICS (the British Productivity and Inventory Control Society) now called the Institute of Operations Management (www.iomnet.org.uk).

If you have previously implemented a planning system, do you recognise any of the following symptoms?

Unrealistic schedules - Schedules on the planning system that are overloaded and/or have past due orders but which nevertheless create material requirements.

Front end injections - Orders loaded on very short lead times. Understanding for capacity is vague or misunderstood, no-one can turn down an order. Short lead time orders are achieved at the expense of orders with longer lead times.

Late Shipments - Shipments dates are missed so orders are released earlier, frequently with material missing. Work in progress increases, lead times get longer, hot lists or a "he who shouts loudest gets the product" mentality develops leading to reduced productivity and increased costs.

Sub-contract or Offshore Manufacture - Costs are too high so work is put to sub-contractors or off-shore manufacturers. Direct costs are lower but overheads increase out of proportion so that, with less direct work, costs appear to be even higher. A spiral of exporting work (along with skills and profit) develops.

No Time to Train - Successive overhead reductions over the years has meant those who are left have to work longer hours and have no time to train or learn the skills they need to solve their problems.

Shop Floor Focus - Most of the company performance measures are focused on the factory output. The majority of "indirect" cost have few, if any, performance measures.

If you have any one of the above problems you need external help. If you have more than one, you need help urgently.

ABCD Review - there are many ways to start an improvement process. One way that many companies have found useful is an intensive, one day review of their planning and control processes as they stand by an external specialist.

Personal support - once your improvement process has started, you will encounter many hazards and pitfalls along the road to Business Excellence. It makes sense for you to take the very best, experienced advice at the appropriate times to avoid these pitfalls. Our consulting approach does not take away your ownership for the improvements but offers you the benefit of our experience and support by one day visits at, typically, 4 to 6 week intervals during the critical stages of your improvement project.

Courses - you start with the knowledge that is the most important and difficult to improve your business; that knowledge is an understanding of your business. Learning the best practice tools and techniques is vital but relatively easy. You can choose between attending public education courses or we can set up private courses at your premises or at a convenient local venue. which will achieve this understanding. Please call 07780 993876 (uk) or e-mail or use the contact us page for more information.

Click here for a list of recent BPIC customers.

Please press your [Home] key to return to the top of the page and the list of contents