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To replace a mainly spreadsheet-based system, software was required to manage the stock and sale of timber. The main requirement was to be able to view forward contracted volumes, manage stock and create machining instructions linked to sales. There must be the ability to print production instructions and create delivery notes and invoices through the software. Rather than using an off-the-shelf system, Service Timber opted to have Foursquare Solutions create a system specifically for them, rather than change their own processes to suit a commercial software package.
When timber purchase contracts are placed, they are logged into the system. This gives an overview of all forward volumes placed to help manage purchasing. It also helps prevent over/under buying, ensuring the correct stock levels can be kept at all times.
All packs are added to the stock system using the intuitive pack system. This system adds all required fields to each pack such as size, volume, tally, species, origin, cost and much more. The stock list features extensive searching capabilities and tools to reserve, consume, print, sell and print selected stock.
This feature allows buyers and sales staff to analyse average volumes and cost of all grades of timber. This is an important feature when monitoring market prices and negotiating new contracts. Let’s not forget, timber is a commodity that fluctuates constantly.
Using this system makes selling timber simple. Packs can be allocated to sales directly from the stock list and quickly priced. If machining is required, this can easily be added using the detailed machining portal shown below. Once packs are added to a sale, they can be easily added to a dispatch which is automatically printed to carbonated A4 paper.
All stock is marked as FSC or PEFC if it is certified as such. Through an automated process, sale of timber as FSC or PEFC logs a record in the Chain of Custody bank and adjusts the current bank volumes accordingly. A reporting feature makes Trada audits a breeze with full and detailed accountability for every m3.
A purchasing module was added to the system to log non-timber purchases such as tooling and fuel. These purchases are assigned to groups that make cost analysis quick and effective. All purchases are logged to the person creating the order and who requested the goods, allowing for full auditing.
This system has a logic engine that makes creating machine instructions simple. On saving the order, the machining items are saved separately to be allocated to machines in the mill using the Mill Management system. The cross cutting item shows the image of the timber to ensure the instructions are clear to the machine operator.
Although it is possible to print paperwork, these machine instructions are digitally assigned to specific machines giving a paperless mill.
Service Timber Ltd are a Timber Importer based in Yorkshire. We supply rough sawn, machined and cross-cut timber to a wide range of markets all over the UK.
We have used the development services provided by Foursquare Solutions Ltd for many years. Their first project was to analyse our stock and ordering systems. The company went on to develop a bespoke software solution that allowed us to tightly control our timber purchasing and stock holding.
Since then, Foursquare Solutions Ltd have developed systems for all facets of our business. These systems have greatly improved the operational processes within the company and have facilitated substantial growth.
We continue to engage the services of Foursquare Solutions Ltd and have shown our confidence in their services by commissioning a substantial software system for our machining operations, which will be completed this year. This involves a touch screen workstation at all production machines, which will show the work schedule and will give the operators the ability to sign-off work and produce pack labels. The system will help our production managers control their production workloads far more effectively and it will decrease their administration considerably. We also expect quicker turnaround of orders which we know will increase our margins.
Foursquare Solutions Ltd have always provided an honest and professional service and I have no hesitation in recommending their services to any potential client.
Robert Richardson
Operations Manager
Service Timber Ltd
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