Soapworks

Soapworks is located in Greater Easterhouse, a post-war housing estate in Glasgow, Scotland and was established by Anita and Gordon Roddick, founders of The Body Shop.

Today, it is the UK’s largest manufacturer of soaps, employing over 100 full-time permanent employees. The factory has grown to over 80,000 square feet with a modern soap production facility, supplying soaps to a large and diverse client base around the world.

Challenge

In the early 2000’s the management team were tasked with implementing an autonomous business software solution.

Solution

Soapworks had very little in the way of technical infrastructure in place having relied for many years on the use of screens linked to a centralised Unix Server.

Turnkey worked closely with everyone on the team to mould Microsoft Dynamics NAV into a complete end-to-end solution managing sales, procurement, inventory management, manufacturing, quality control and financials. The solution also introduced a full Microsoft business server and upgrade to all of the users’ PCs.

Today, the system covers the following key business areas:

  • HR
  • Warehousing
  • Quality control including sampling, rejection
  • Production across multiple automated and manually intensive lines
  • Procurement matched to production to ensure minimum stock management
  • Financial reporting including full monitoring of raw materials, WIP and finished goods
  • Business Intelligence
  • EDI connectivity to major retailers

Turnkey offer a range of Infrastructure Solutions from IT managed services to server upgrades, our team support your infrastructure requrements.

Upgrade options

The next generation of Dynamics NAV is here – Dynamics 365 Business Central allows you to streamline processes, gain better insights, and bring your ERP and CRM systems together.

Soapworks - Journey of Soap

Results

Following the successful implementation, Soapworks saw their turnover rise from less than £10 million to almost £15 million in the following 3 years of implementation. This was achieved with a small but highly motivated management team who have continued to guide the company successfully. A strong focus on managing inventory, creating new products, opening up new markets and exceptional quality control has ensured the company’s survival through turbulent times. With the aid of Microsoft Dynamics NAV the business has diversified away from a small number of customers, to embrace well-known retailers like M&S, Co-op, Yardley’s and Burberry.

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