25 May 2006 | Anusha Bradley
Dorma, official suppliers of bed linen to the Royal family, has bought an IT system to help it negate its out-of-stock and over-supply problems.
The company, which supplies sheets to the Queen and Prince of Wales, previously had various enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for procurement, financial planning and inventory.
These systems were not integrated and as a result the firm's supply chain lacked visibility, often leading to shortages or over-supply.
Following a takeover in February last year by cashmere clothing manufacturer Dawson International, Dorma increased its outsourcing to third-party suppliers from 60 to 95 per cent.
It has also invested in a single company-wide ERP system to track designs, purchase orders, manufacturing deadlines and sales information.
Dorma now uses a web-based ERP system from software firm Lawson. It is available in 30 locations and used by its UK and overseas procurement teams to help make buying decisions.
Michael Hartley, Dawson executive chairman, said: "Because the system is web-based it is low cost, easy to use and easy to introduce to our suppliers."
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