Success Story - AJ Tensile Fabrications Ltd

Starting up as a one-man sub-contract welding operation in 2000, AJ Tensile Fabrications Ltd (AJ Tensile) has grown to a successful multi-million pound business. It manufactures and installs fabric structures to a wide range of clients both in the UK and internationally, across a number of industries. With an impressive range of high profile clients such as Wimbledon Court One, Diesel and Vauxhall, AJ Tensile has built a reputation as a reliable and quality driven manufacturer.

The Challenge

AJ Tensile experienced a lack of integration between administration and production, meaning there was either duplication of input or omissions, which could lead to customer orders becoming lost, or actioned but not invoiced. There was also a loss of control over cash flow due to disjointed and inaccurate financial reporting and unreliable works order scheduling. The lack of visibility of sales pipeline and order demand meant planning was almost impossible, and led to inefficient working patters in order to meet customer lead-time expectations. Lack of visibility of performance, either for the business overall or for individual jobs, meant that errors could be repeated and inefficient practices continued.

The Solution

Automated order management now processes an order in less than a minute compared to 20 minutes with the previous manual system. The company is saving approximately £9,500 annually on IT development, configuration and customisation over the cost of a comparable, on-premise ERP system.

Since implementing Advanced’s cloud-based ERP solution the business has grown by 100%, doubling its sales revenue. Stock levels are easier to manage and despite year-on-year growth, the value of stock held has not increased. Cash flow has become easier to manage and control, with backward and forward performance reporting. A complete solution was provided, co-ordinating all resources such as materials, people and machines in order meet customer demand in the most efficient way. The business has avoided unnecessary investment in expensive infrastructure and hardware. It is also now free to focus on growing its operations without the concern for “growing out of” their software environment.

“Advanced’s cloud-based ERP solution has given us complete control over our operations and financial performance during a period of rapid growth.”