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Miller faced a new set of significant logistical challenges in 2020 with the onset of the COVID pandemic . National social distancing measures meant only a small number of people were able to work on-site at the same time , and Miller had to develop a new remote working strategy so the company could continue operating profitably and serving its global customer base .

From early 2022 , the post-pandemic economy was impacted by a combination of disruptive geopolitical events , which further disrupted global supply chains and dramatically increased the price of goods and raw materials . This prompted new challenges for Miller , including a surge in customer demand , triggered by the economic recovery , an inflation of steel prices , rapidly rising global shipping container costs and on-going labour shortages .

Selecting Epicor Kinetic

In 2016 , Miller evaluated several vendors and chose Epicor Kinetic as its ERP solution , as it offered the integrated accounting , production , purchasing and multi-currency / multi-site / multiwarehouse features that the business was looking for . Miller invested in Epicor Kinetic as a long-term solution , encompassing future needs from an ERP tool and found that it was not only easy to operate but highly customisable .

“ We have rapid growth plans for new products , services and markets and Epicor Kinetic provides us a strong foundation to help us get there ,” said Iain Lytollis , IT Manager at Miller UK .

Epicor Kinetic helps Miller achieve 120 % business growth

Epicor Kinetic helped Miller to streamline its IT infrastructure and reduce the number of legacy systems in its environment . The system went live almost immediately due to its rapid deployment design , and it continues to supply more accurate business information on products , costs and profit margins , allowing Miller to make more informed decisions on everything from sourcing and production to distribution .

Since Epicor Kinetic was implemented , Miller has leveraged the system to make more accurate decisions , improve production efficiencies and enhance its customer experience .

One big advantage over other ERP systems is the flexibility , integration and customisation capabilities that can be easily scaled up or down as required in response to demand . These attributes allowed Miller to break down business data silos and automate key processes such as electronic stock picking and line-side replenishing to avoid any periods of zero stock availability . If components are not replenished on a timely basis , the production line can be delayed or even shut down . Automating the line-side replenishment process to keep exactly the right amount of material on hand ensures the operation never runs out .

In 2020 , COVID exposed vulnerabilities in businesses across the world . Social distancing meant only a handful of people were able to work on-site in rotating shifts but with Epicor Kinetic , Miller was able to establish a secure VPN connection directly to the factory floor so workers could remotely manage key areas of the production line from the safety and comfort of their homes . This hybrid working strategy greatly strengthened Miller ’ s agility and resilience , and the business was able to maintain critical continuity during a global crisis .

Between 2020 and 2022 , Miller responded to unforeseen geopolitical and economic challenges by identifying new opportunities for profitability and improving in-house machine capabilities to reduce the number of materials and products being purchased . The company diversified its supply chain by manufacturing new component parts ( pins and bosses ) instead of purchasing from suppliers and expanding its range of couplers . Miller leveraged the Epicor Product Configurator in Epicor Kinetic to select the correct fittings for each product and the company was able to launch a new range of GT Series couplers in 2022 , which helped to increase revenue growth by 120 %.

Previous page : Iain Lytollis , IT Manager , Miller UK

WE HAVE RAPID GROWTH PLANS FOR NEW PRODUCTS , SERVICES AND MARKETS AND EPICOR KINETIC PROVIDES US A STRONG FOUNDATION TO HELP US GET THERE .