Dewhirst achieves improved customer service with FastReactPlan

Marks and Spencer supplier Dewhirst have achieved improved customer service, speed of response and lower stock holding, through the implementation of the FastReactPlan

Dewhirst has implemented FastReactPlan to provide fully integrated supply chain planning, critical path management, flow reporting and raw materials visibility in a single coordinated system linked to and working with the existing JD Edwards business system.

40 − 50 %

reduction of inventory costs

This combination allows the impact of changes in any one area, such as sample approvals, flow requirements, raw materials availability and current production performance to be immediately reflected in other areas, providing other notification of priority changes and a clear warning of potential problems.

“FastReactPlan has enabled the closer coordination of functions within the business and this has facilitated a better materials planning process.This has directly resulted in the stockholding on materials being reduced by 40-50% (25-30 days stockholding down to an average of 15 days), at the same time as improving the raw material availability to the production floor”

Glenn Walker,
Finance Director, Dewhirst

Glenn added: “FastReactPlan was surprisingly easy to install, and we have been very impressed with the robustness and functionality provided by the software. Given the FastReactPlan pedigree we expected a good planning system, but the flexibility and control provided by FastReactPlan’s critical path system was a unexpected bonus”

The conclusion

Andrew Brown, Coats Digital comments: “We understand the garment industry at a ground level and have consequently built very flexible planning solutions, which meet he needs of a wide variety of garment businesses. FastReactPlan has provided Dewhirst with a solution that presents their production planning, critical path and material delivery flows in a visual and easy to use format, which is essential when aiming to offer true flexibility and level of customer service necessary to stay competitive in today’s business environment.”