Case Study: Southco Inc. achieves 0 PPM scrap and 85% OEE with Epicor Mattec MES

Southco Inc. - Customer Case Study

Southco, a global manufacturer of specialist latches and hinges based in Warndon, UK, had relied on paper-based production controls despite serving demanding automotive, aerospace and medical customers. The company sought a manufacturing execution system (MES) to provide live, accurate monitoring of machines, production and scrap and to drive continuous improvement across its injection-moulding operations.

Southco implemented Epicor Mattec MES for real-time production and process monitoring, which unveiled true plant performance, guided investment (eg, a new hopper to eliminate color contamination) and enabled statistical process control. Results included scrap falling from as high as 15,000–16,000 PPM to periods of 0 PPM, OEE rising to about 85%, 100% elimination of paper where deployed, a reported net gain of US$700,000, and the retirement of surplus machines; the solution is now being rolled out internationally and integrated with SAP.

Southco Inc.

Tobi Parker

Manufacturing Engineer