Cheshire-based manufacturer Solo Containment has selected NexSys to implement a new ERP system to transform the way it does business. Solo manufactures flexible isolators for use in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors. Thanks to its innovative products the business is growing fast, but its legacy system is failing to keep pace with the demands of its users. After a comprehensive tendering process, the manufacturer instructed NexSys in December to provide a centralised SYSPRO system to improve efficiency and enhance project management capabilities.

Solo Containment was established in Poynton, Cheshire in 2011 and has developed a range of innovative, high quality single use isolator solutions for a variety of challenging applications. The company is now on an impressive growth trajectory and will shortly be moving to larger premises. To support this growth Solo realised that an effective and efficient ERP system, capable of dealing with the demands of the growing business, was required.

Solo Containment’s General Manager, Nigel Pegram, says: “We’ve simply outgrown our current accounting and stock control software and knew the solution was to invest in an ERP system. We came up with a detailed brief and instructed a consultant to help us find a provider. We had initial responses from around 15 different companies, and working carefully through a series of questionnaires, responses and then system demonstrations, we decided that the SYSPRO solution ticked all the boxes and we were very impressed with the level of expertise they could offer.”

Much of Solo’s work involves designing bespoke solutions for its clients, each of which is managed as a separate project.

Pegram explains: “Up to now our software has had very limited capability and we’ve had to do all our planning separately on spreadsheets. We needed an ERP system capable of building, and managing, a project by integrating manufacturing with other elements such as design and installation. K3 found a way of allowing us to do all our resource planning with one system.”

Solo has been working with K3 for the last three months and plans for the new system to go live later this year. There has been a series of scoping visits and planning sessions, with Solo developing a strong relationship with K3’s project management team.

When it embarked on its ERP journey, the manufacturer was looking for a partner, rather than just a software provider. Pegram had experience of numerous ERP implementations in previous roles and understands the importance of collaborative working.

“Implementing a new ERP system is a scary thing for a small business and very resource heavy,” says Pegram. “We were very impressed with how well K3 understands the world of manufacturing and the challenges we face. The individuals and the culture at K3 are a perfect fit and that synergy is critical.”

As the implementation process moves forward, the new system will be transformational. Users will no longer waste precious time trying to gather information from different systems and rather than arranging regular catch up meetings, the project management team can see how everything is progressing at the touch of a button. The success of a project can also be easily evaluated to inform future decision-making.

Pegram concludes: “It’s like looking into a box of delights – we’re always coming across new useful functions. It’s an exciting time and we look forward to working with K3 on helping our business embrace the next stage of growth.”