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Typical pack with manuals,
CDs, paper & card inserts |
Case Study
"Keeping it Simple, and Accurate"
The Background
Capita Learning had won a contract with the Department
for Education to provide ICT training to teachers
in schools in conjunction with New Opportunities
Funding (NOF). The contract was for a 24 month period.
There was a total of 19 different products, split
across 3 learning key stages. Each pack contained
2 manuals, between 8 and 12 CDs, various paper work
and packaging. The requirement was to manufacture
and store the components, collate and distribute
the packs directly to the schools, as well as organise
the collection of any returns.
The Problem
Six months into the contract Capita approached us
as they were having problems with their initial
supplier. Packs were being delivered late (up to
4 weeks after the order had been placed), incomplete
(missing CDs, manuals etc) and to the wrong addresses.
All of these problems were costing Capita financially
as well as damaging their reputation.
The Solution
A Supply Partnership was formed in April 2001 (with
18 months still to run) and shipping started in
May. Initially organising the stock as it was delivered,
every item was allocated a part number. Each item
was then counted and entered into a stock list.
A Bill of Materials was drawn up for each product.
At this point packs were pre-built with various
quantities, 1000 of the fast moving packs through
to 100 of the slower movers. Capita sent their orders
on a Tuesday and they were shipped by the end of
the week, so the schools received them by the following
Monday. As packs were sent out, new ones were built
to ensure a constant supply.
The Result
By October 2001 we had shipped in excess of 20,000
packs, successfully meeting deadlines without any
problems. Capita had saved money on the manufacture
and storage of their goods, by using our knowledge
and experience of print and CD production. But most
importantly, they had managed to provide a service
which helped to enhance their reputation in the
IT Services education sector.
In February 2002, Jackie Barnes of Capita PSD had
this to say:
"We selected 4B Martinvest from a range of
fulfilment houses, based on the service delivery
standards they offered. They were comparable price
wise with some national fulfilment houses and although
we are a national company, we felt that the services
offered by 4B far outweighed the service we would
receive from others. This has proved to be the case.
They have worked with us to update our manuals and
processes and in every case they have saved us money
without reducing quality. They always offer ideas
and we see them now as part of our company rather
than just another supplier. They always produce
high quality work and their contacts within the
print and CD replication community are second to
none. We are so pleased we got it 'right first time'."
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