The County Armagh-based firm provides precision engineering services to companies in the aerospace, defence, pharmaceutical, and automotive sectors. Despite experiencing rapid growth, BPE recognised that its purchasing and stock handling processes – relying on a combination of an in-house-designed database, spreadsheets, and paper-based systems – needed an overhaul to support further expansion.

After a thorough review of the MRP options, BPE selected 123Insight, as Brian Perry, Operations Director, explains: “It simply wasn’t sustainable to grow using the systems we had in place. We already employed two full-time admin staff and needed a third. I had seen the 123Insight MRP solution a customer of ours was using and it felt like the perfect fit for our requirements.”

After deciding to use 123Insight, BPE examined its data and processes, working with reseller QMS Insight on an implementation plan. The company mapped out its processes and workflows on paper to ensure the data was MRP-ready.

BPE went live just two months after selecting 123Insight. Despite relying on legacy systems for years, the transition to the new system was rapid. BPE saw an immediate improvement in visibility and control across all areas, with the process of generating purchase and work orders drastically reduced. Previously, two employees spent 39 hours a week raising orders – this task now takes just two hours.

Stock holding also saw significant benefits. With more strategic purchasing, better visibility of forward orders and parts history, and by only ordering what was needed, BPE reduced stock by 25%.

“BPE has always maintained tight control of cash flow, but because of lack of visibility in the existing system, inefficiencies were inevitable,” continued Brian Perry, BPE. “With 123Insight, everything became more discreet, and all the inefficiencies disappeared. Better forward visibility also helped our suppliers, as we no longer placed small orders with urgent lead times. Overall, our stock accuracy is now never less than 98%.”

As BPE predominantly works in the aerospace, defence, and medical sectors, it must adhere to strict quality accreditation standards, such as AS9100. 123Insight's batch traceability functionality means that auditors can be satisfied within minutes.

BPE has now returned to pre-pandemic growth levels of 20% per year, which Brian attributes in no small part to 123Insight: “What I pay in subscription wouldn’t pay an employee on minimum wage and there's a return on investment every day of the week. 123Insight will easily cope with double the business we're doing today without needing more people to drive it.”

123Insight is an MRP product from Forterro, the software solutions provider to more than 13,000 small and mid-sized industrial companies in Europe.

“For smaller companies, an MRP solution can seem like something you can manage without, but BPE is a wonderful example of how a manufacturer can fully digitise and reap the benefits almost immediately,” said Steve Fearon, President, Northern Europe, Forterro. “It's a company ready for future growth – agile, scalable and highly efficient.”