Mr. Ronnachart Mahattanapreut, Country Director, Infor Global Solutions (Thailand), explained the reason for this success: “Whereas Microsoft focuses on technological R&D, Infor’s Business Application and Supply Chain software are especially designed to support production of food and other consumer products - from upstream through to downstream stages.”

Demand Planning

Infor’s three software modules for Demand Planning, Advanced Planning Advance Scheduling enables customers to improve supply chain management efficiency, simplify work procedures, minimize wastage and improve productivity levels, thereby lowering long-term operating costs.

CP Food or Betagro, which operates fully-integrated production lines, has installed Infor’s Demand Planning module.  This applies past order data or forecast figures to control chicken farming, slaughterhouse and packing plants, and to classify export goods into frozen fresh chickens and flour-coated chicken meat.  The software determines the number of chickens to be slaughtered each day, total volume expressed in metric tons, and the number of packages to be processed to meet the daily consumption demand.

“Demand Planning is particularly suitable for producers who operate Multi-Factory systems while Advance Planning caters to single production plants,” explained Ronnachart.

Warehouse Management

Infor’ Warehouse Management (WM) facilitates storage, classification, selection and delivery of all types of products in accordance with pre-determined conditions.  By controlling the shelf life of each product category, the customer can improve performance efficiency.  Three core groups of customers who are using Infor’s WMS (Warehouse Management System) are Retail or Modern Trade, Auto Parts and Third Party Logistics (3PLs).

“The selection of goods demanded by customers has to comply with set criteria for product expiry. We also help customers plan storage space with a view to maximizing efficiency, solve problems caused by defective or expired products and minimize delay in selecting / storing / shelving/delivering products to prevent loss of goods stored in the warehouse,” said Ronnachart.

Because of the huge quantities and diverse categories of products in storage, redundant, expired or defective goods tend to be plentiful, resulting in higher production and storage costs.  Random or inefficient storage methods can also cause delays in storing, selecting, and organizing the internal transportation of goods, while it can also lead to inefficient use of space, high incidence of missing stock and even unauthorized movement of goods that are difficult to monitor.

Infor’s WMS Solutions solves all of these problems based on an efficient management of goods held in storage, product categories, quantities, expiry dates, and a ‘first in–first out’ principle.  Designing and managing storage space helps to simplify work procedures, minimize delays, and increase convenience and efficiency.  As a result, automotive customers were able to reduce their operating time from 8 to 2 hours while lowering the cost of missing inventories by 10 million baht per month.  Previously, missing stocks were identified only after year-end inventory checking,” explained Ronnachart.

Transportation Management

Infor’s software solutions do not end with production or warehouse management but include Transportation Management that is tailor-made to meet customer needs for efficient and cost-effective route planning.  To do this it is necessary to consider the number of routes, locations and branches that require delivery, actual distances, frequency of delivery, volume of goods, product categories, the order of priority and on-time delivery at final destinations. Group orders also apply in cases where multiple customers are located along the same route. The optimization of loading capacity takes into account the size and shape of goods or packages and vehicle size.

“This software enables an accurate determination of the type and size of vehicles required, the number of drivers and personnel, fuel consumption, and efficient management of return trips to help customers transport raw materials, containers, packaging or other goods back to the factory. Customers using Infor’s product can calculate expenses and achieve 15% cost savings which more than cover the initial investment outlay,” said Ronnachart.

Always striving for better solutions

 
 As a leading global Supply Chain Software distributor, Infor serves over 1,500 customers worldwide and has the largest share of the Thai Warehouse Management market.  Innovative solutions are constantly being developed by food and other industrial experts based in the US, UK and Netherlands, while the Thai company provides installation plus pre and post-sales consulting services. 

“Because Infor are already Best Practice Packages, they normally meet 80% of customer needs.  Only minor adjustments of the software are required to suit an individual customer’s business operations.  This year, Infor will launch Enterprise and Resource Planning (ERP) software to support food processing, beverages and chemical industries,” said Ronnachart.

Infor (Thailand) started to recover from the global economic crisis in February 2009. The Thai branches’ sales revenues have not been affected during the last three years, despite the numerous economic and political problems. 

“Thanks to close and cordial customer relationship, superior software products and successful problem-solving for individual customers, we were able to maintain local customer base above the 500 landmark.  Some customers ask us to manage goods that have been produced and sold but still await delivery orders. As this requirement applies exclusively to Thailand, nowhere else, the company has built up a unique ability to organize storage system for customers with limited storage space,” said Ronnachart.

Infor (Thailand) executives are now inviting Thai entrepreneurs to consider Infor’s software for managing production or warehouses.  IT investments may seem intangible but they are just as important as investments in machinery because they help to cut costs and increase revenues through efficient time and labor management, simplified work procedures, waste minimization and greater accuracy, thereby strengthening customers’ confidence and faith in the producer.

“Software selection must not be limited to functionality.  Potential investors also need to consider the reliability of installation and consulting teams. Experienced personnel can help to differentiate and add value to your products while incompetent technicians can devalue your products,” Ronnachart concluded.

Zero defects thanks to WMS

 Betagro Group, Thailand’s fully-integrated agri-business, producer and exporter of ready-to-eat chicken and pork meat, is using Infor’s WMS software to upgrade logistics and supply chain management efficiency.

“Betagro continues to invest in modern technologies that are necessary and cost-effective while striving to minimize expenses and pre-empt staff resistance. IT tools are selected on the basis of their ability to solve problems that have been clearly identified,” said Nikorn Eamvorasombat, Director of Betagro’s IT Center.

The bulk of Betagro’s products are meat and perishable food products with specified expiry dates, and small packages that are not easily monitored except with the help of database software. Applying the “first-in first-out” principle, Infor’s WMS allows easy access to stored goods, ensures minimal waste and human errors.  Recent results show that the defect rate has been reduced to 0%.

“While most WMS products have similar functions, Infor’s package comes with pre-sale and after-sales support and services.  The WMS 4000 version is a state-of the-art technology while Infor’s ERP package offers full technical support.  Betagro is fully satisfied with Infor as it meets all our requirements,” Nikorn said.