Mike England Timber Co. Ltd has adopted DigitME2's manufacturing software solutions to enhance their production visibility and reduce production costs.
Timber and Coatings Specialists Mike England Timber Co. Ltd have over 50 years’ experience of providing standard and bespoke, sawn and moulded timber supplies to customers in the UK.
The company, based in Hoghton near Preston, employ 20 staff, and after a recommendation contacted our Burnley Campus based project, DigitME2. The company wanted to discuss how DigitME2’s software solutions could help to monitor the company’s production timings and machine efficiencies.
Initially, Mike England installed and experimented with the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), monitoring software, but after a six-month review they decided to pursue a more integrated solution for machine monitoring. Subsequently, they began trials of the DigitME2 Timelogger software. This was installed in January 2023 and the company are now benefitting and continually experimenting with its production timing capability.
Managing Director Jeanette Corner said: “Monitoring time management and providing a method of costing each process/job has been a huge benefit, complementing our enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform.”
"Mike England Timber have benefitted from the adoption of DigitME2 manufacturing software solutions to help improve their visibility of production timings, machine utilisation and production costs."
— Kelly Aitken, Business Development Manager at DigitME2
Although the company encountered some issues, such as lack of network signal on site and staff adjusting to new processes, the company adapted and the initial issues were quickly overcome. As for the future, the company wish to continue working with DigitME2 to research how data collection and other digital technologies could help to improve KPIs and grow the business.
Kelly Aitken, Business Development Manager at DigitME2, added: “Mike England Timber have benefitted from the adoption of DigitME2 manufacturing software solutions to help improve their visibility of production timings, machine utilisation and production costs. The availability of accurate production timings are a key factor in scheduling, product costing, job costing, and resource planning. As a manufacturer already experienced in the collection of data for use within ERP systems, Mike England Timber have utilised the DigitME2 software as part of a long-term, low risk project to help determine their future strategy for data driven manufacturing.”
For anyone thinking about moving to digital manufacturing, Jeanette provides the following advice: “We would not have been aware of this technology and its capability had we not been introduced to the DigitME2 Project. We would encourage others to participate, to gain a valuable insight into their production processes and time management.”
