Fast React Systems the UK based Production Planning and Sourcing Software provider to the Apparel, Footwear and Textile Industry wins Crismina Garment Inc.

Crismina Garment Inc., implement Fastreact Enterprise as part of ongoing Production Planning Improvement Strategy. Crismina Garment Inc, established in 1978 and with annual revenues of $45 million and 1,500 employees, adopts Fastreact Enterprise. The company recognised the need to dramatically improve customer service and response-times and adopted the solution to support their pre-production and capacity-planning. The solution provides Crismina Garment Inc. with improved co-ordination and visibility across eight sites.

UK, (PRWEB) September 10, 2003
The Company

With Head Office located in Manila, Crismina currently has the capacity to manufacture approximately 5 million garments per year and is one of the largest corporations in the Philippines. The company is highly regarded within the industry and supplies to leading brands such as GAP, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Levis and Ann Taylor. Crismina has a 5-year business plan to significantly increase sales turnover and extend its operations into Vietnam and China.

The Production Planning Business Challenge

Crismina operates in a market faced with increasingly strict buyer conditions relating to price and shorter lead-times. The business environment dictates frequent production changes to capitalize on latest sales trends, yet innovations and advancements in business practices had, in the past, remained limited across the industry.

The Crismina management team undertook a comprehensive review of its internal business processes. The company explored the marketplace for technology that supported their drive towards improved effectiveness to maximise output.

Mr Que, Crismina, stated, "The organisation was in transition. We had been very successful in the past due to our excellent personnel and reputation, but competitors were catching up fast. To develop our business, we needed to concentrate on undertaking the basics well, while embracing innovative technology to make best use our management expertise."

It was clear from the assessment that managing pre-production critical path and production planning, in a non systematic approach, for the growing number of styles had become a difficult process when using unlinked systems and manual methods such as Gantt Charts. Rapid changes forced the company to continually modify the critical path, the production plan manually and then attempt to communicate and co-ordinate the changes across the multi-site organisation.

Crismina identified that they needed a system that could electronically co-ordinate the critical path processes and production plan. Ensuring all users had access and maintained the same critical path via a single networked system, this would allow them to raise and deal with issues ahead of time so that production start-up was punctual.

The Production Planning Solution

Using Fastreact Enterprise, Crismina now has the ability to manage the critical pre-production activities and detailed production planning for their eight production sites.

Fast React has provided the company with a tool to manage job orders to ensure accurate delivery commitment can be given and met. The solution ensures co-ordination of effort and a business-wide understanding of pre-production issues, through a visual planning board and the creation of task diaries for individuals and departments. The system has also provided management with a tool to allow
them address prospective issues before they affect the business.

The visual nature of Fastreact and all-site access makes for greatly improved communication. Mr Que, Crismina, comments, " Our senior merchandiser introduced us to Fastreact as she had positive experience of its use with her former employer in Sri Lanka. In discussion, it quickly became clear that this cutting edge solution was the 'best fit for all of our critical path management and production planning issues. "Fastreact is being used by key personnel from Sample and Product Development Departments, Merchandising and Production through to the Finishing Department.

The Benefits of Fast React Systems Production Planning Solution

The innovative, Fastreact, visual solution has allowed Crismina to increase on-time delivery, reduce order lead-times, resolve supply chain issues, and improve planning and collaboration.

Mr Que, Crismina, comments, "Fastreact has provided a communication bridge between various operating departments by providing all units with electronic updates via a single information source. Operating Departments all re-align their functions to achieve the common business goal of delivering goods on time. By co-ordinating the
efforts of all departments, we successfully achieve our goal."

The ability to quickly manipulate the existing production plan, identify any issues and rapidly consider alternative solutions provides a business-wide understanding of pre-production and capacity issues.

"With Fastreact now in place it allows us to be more predictive. Potential bottlenecks are immediately identified and dealt with before they cause a problem. I guess the organisation is better informed today so we get fewer surprises. Our customers are
impressed with the accuracy of our forecasting of orders based on a fabric start date and achievable manufactured product ship dates. Thanks to the new system we are now able to discuss potential issues with customers before they happen." Concluded Mr Que.

Conclusion

Andrew Brown, Managing Director Fast React Systems explains. "Considering the organisation had been on a manual system for quite some time, the introduction of the new Fastreact system was well received. This can be attributed to the graphical aspect of the product which perhaps makes it appealing to users and easy to implement and learn. With Crismina maintaining a no Air Shipment Status since implementation in February to August 2002, this serves as an excellent testament to our solutions."

"Fast React Systems has become the leading global provider for production planning and critical path management solutions for the garment industry. The Fastreact solution for Crismina was implemented by our Fast React Asia division, based in Bangkok, Thailand. The Fast React Asia operation is becoming increasingly important in our global growth and support of clients." Continued Brown.

Head Office
Fast React Systems Limited, Bramley House, 1 Bowmans Way,
Sedgebrook, Grantham, Nottingham, NG32 2HF, UK
T:+44 (0) 1332 792990
E:sales@fastreact.co.uk
I: www.fastreact.co.uk

Fast React Asia
Bangkok, Thailand
T/F: +66 (0)2 662 0303
E: simon@fastreact-asia.com

About Fast React Systems
Fast React Systems are a leading provider of Production Planning and Sourcing Solutions for the Apparel, Footwear and Textile Industry. Production Planning and Sourcing Solution including Fastreact Enterprise, Fastreact Evolution, Fastreact Advanced Planning & Scheduling and Fastreact Sourcing.

Contact www.fastreact.co.uk or email sue.parsons@fastreact.co.uk