T.I.M.S.- A tool for our times

Press, 8 October 1987, Page 36

T.I.M.S.A tool for our times

Datamark is a company created solely to market and support one product — T.I.M.S. The Integrated Manufacturing System is a computer soft-ware package designed to streamline manufacturing and distribution businesses. The brainchild of Englishman Steve Hards, T.1.M5. was originally developed in the United Kingdom and brought to New Zealand in the early 1980 s.

In 1983 Datamark was formed, and Mr Hards emigrated to New Zealand. Since then T.LM.S. has undergone a lot of changes to become, according to Datamark consultants Noel Noonan and Jim Brown, the only package of its kind specifically designed for the New Zealand manufacturer. Messrs Noonan and Brown say most New Zealand companies are making goods to order rather than for stock, and they believe that this is where T.I.M.S. can help.

is a streamlining too! for management, letting you know what you have got, what you will need and what your commitments are. There are 18 modules, divided into three packages: stock control, accounting and manufacturing. They can stand alone or integrate to form a total package. Within the manufacturing package, T.I.MJS. can come up with a materials requirement plan, converting orders into a list of parts required. The production scheduling modules then come into operation, sequencing and planning the work orders within the factory to make the best possible use of machinery, labour and time.

. Mr Noonan says several companies not usually thought of as manufacturers have adapted the manufacturing package to their own requirements.

The Southland Electric Power Supply, for In-

stance, uses-the package to control coats and materials on its projects.

Datamark have recently developed the T.l.M.ber package for the timber industry. It offers better stock control, which Mr Brown believes is critical in a competitive Industry. “With holding costs being what they are, it is important to know what stock you have and which lines are not selling.” If all this seems a little complicated, then breathe a sigh of relief, because the true beauty of the T.I.MJ. package, say Messrs Noonan and Brown, is its simplicity. They believe T.I.M.S. is easier to use and to understand than any other system — and this makes its benefits to a company a lot quicker to obtain. Mr Brown, who used to be a private business consultant, remembers the first time he used T.I.M.S. “It was such a sensible and easy system to use —

you wondered why all systems were not like thiS.”' ;

He cites the case of an Auckland company who had the package installed over a week-end and were using It on Monday. AU the modules are written in the same style, which makes it much easier to jump from one to another as the need arises. And because the system is integrated, information need only be put into the computer once — it is then available to aU the other modules.

The purpose of T.1.M3. is to improve ; efficiency by avoiding duplication, predicting costs and material requirements and making the maximum use of resources.

It keeps all the information about a business at the user's fingertips, allowing far greater control. And In the unlikely event of an emer : gency, just call Datamark..