Aluminium Industries triples growth with SYSPRO system overhaul

Aluminium Industries, an Australian manufacturing company headquartered in Melbourne, has reported a 250 per cent increase in business growth following its adoption of the SYSPRO ERP system.

Business expansion

The company, which began as an aluminium supply business, expanded its operations by acquiring Pivotech, a producer of shower screens. This expansion prompted a review of business systems, with Aluminium Industries deciding to replace its previous finance software, QuickBooks, which no longer met the group's requirements for managing multiple business divisions.

Lee Brown, Chief Technical Officer at Aluminium Industries, said, "We needed a new solution to run our business, and SYSPRO has delivered far beyond expectations. Its ability to support our growth ambitions while managing the complexity of multiple divisions has been quite impressive."

Selection of SYSPRO

Jacob Kowalewski, General Manager of Unbound Systems - a division of Aluminium Industries - outlined the rationale behind the decision to select SYSPRO. Kowalewski explained, "We were looking for a system that could manage manufacturing requirements natively, without needing bolt-ons. SYSPRO was built on manufacturing principles and could manage multiple brands under a single business entity with ease. Just as importantly, SYSPRO's business object layer gave us the flexibility to integrate custom-built software like configurators and CRMs directly into the ERP environment."

Operational improvements

The company reported significant gains by integrating an eCommerce order management solution with SYSPRO. The new system enabled customers to place orders directly, removing the need for manual processing and reducing administrative bottlenecks. This facilitated real-time order flow from customers to the factory floor and supported the company's growth.

Brown commented, "We've tripled the size of the business without having to add more admin staff, which is a huge efficiency gain."

Further operational benefits were gained through advanced job management and inventory control features within SYSPRO. The company has improved the management of bills of materials, labour allocation, and production scheduling, resulting in more effective cost and cash flow management.

Brown added, "With SYSPRO's job system, we've gained better control over manufacturing, cost management, and labour scheduling. We've also tightened up inventory accuracy, reduced stock on hand, and improved cash flow."

Customer service

SYSPRO's inventory traceability features have also improved customer service by providing accurate information to customer service teams.

"Customers have noticed the difference," according to Kowalewski. "Orders are on time, accurate, and not getting lost in the system and SYSPRO has made that possible."

These developments have directly impacted customers, who have benefited from punctual and accurate order fulfilment. The system's support for multiple divisions and brands has made a difference in how efficiently the company is able to handle its growth and customer demands.

Future growth plans

Looking to the future, Aluminium Industries intends to pursue further acquisitions. Brown stated, "SYSPRO is our final ERP move. We made this transition a few years ago, and I can't see a future where SYSPRO doesn't support our ongoing expansion."

James Robinson, Head of Services for Asia Pacific at SYSPRO, spoke about the partnership, saying, "We're thrilled to be working with such a dynamic and forward-thinking manufacturer like Aluminium Industries. Their ability to scale operations, embrace innovation and leverage technology to improve efficiency and service delivery aligns perfectly with SYSPRO's mission. It's exciting to support Aluminium Industries continue to grow and lead in key markets."

The company credits SYSPRO's functionality - including an integrated business object layer enabling custom software development, advanced inventory and job management tools, and a reliable support network - with helping it to efficiently expand across multiple sectors and streamline its processes without needing to increase administrative staff.