Lafuncar S.L., specialist manufacturer of customized medical support vehicles, has chosen MyWorkPLAN job management software from Sescoi to optimize its management processes and improve its production efficiency. Located in Barcelona, the company has over 30 years of experience servicing the health sector, producing ambulances, mobile operating rooms, medical reconnaissance and advanced life support vehicles, and multipurpose vehicles designed to meet the needs of the individual client.

Because each vehicle is highly customized, Lafuncar needed a job management system which was designed to suit project based manufacture. Sescoi created MyWorkPLAN with these types of applications in mind. Jordi López, Lafuncar General Manager, says, "Our objective is to deliver first class medical vehicles and to continually improve their quality and maximize the comfort and ease of use for both patients and health workers. We work closely with our customers to design innovative equipment tailored to their needs, which makes each vehicle we produce unique."

<< Without MyWorkPLAN we would be unable to produce quotations and we would not be able to initiate the manufacturing process. It is a vital part of our management system and contributes significantly to cost reduction and production efficiency. >>
Jordi López, General Manager, Lafuncar, Spain

MyWorkPLAN allows users to maintain all the documentation relating to each project in one place, so that information including quotations, invoices, delivery notes and production instructions can all be easily accessed. Feedback from the shop floor allows managers to determine the workshop loading on each resource, helping them to estimate delivery times and take action when an overload situation is about to occur. José Lafuente, Lafuncar's Technical Office Manager, says, "Project managers can access the project data at any time. This gives them a much better understanding of the current status of each build which, in turn, leads to improved efficiency."

During the implementation of MyWorkPLAN, existing manufacturing data was fed into the system so that historical costs could all be recorded and accessed. Lafuncar can also reference previous quotations for similar vehicles, making it much faster to produce a new, accurate quotation. The system records the actual hours spent building a new ambulance. This information can then be used for subsequent projects, allowing the company to optimize its production processes and ensure that each job is profitable. José Lafuente adds, "We are already experiencing improved cost control and our workshop is running more efficiently, thanks to MyWorkPLAN. We are able to compare actual time spent with that planned so that we can anticipate a cost overrun and take appropriate action to remedy the situation. We also have immediate data concerning the material costs for each vehicle. Again we can compare these with the quotation as the vehicle is being built, to ensure that we are not exceeding our target costs."

By ensuring all the documentation for each project is correct, MyWorkPLAN reduces after sales queries, the customer knows what to expect and knows that the vehicle meets the agreed specification. Ariel López, Purchasing Manager, says, "Clear communication with customers raises satisfaction levels and also ensures that our invoices are paid more quickly, improving our cash flow."

All of Sescoi's software has been designed with ease of use in mind. MyWorkPLAN includes help functions and tutorials which make it very easy to operate and quick to implement. It links to existing popular software, such as accounting packages and Microsoft Office® systems, allowing it to import and share data very simply. Ariel López comments, "MyWorkPLAN is easy to use and has a wide range of capabilities which are particularly useful for our business. Its simplicity has made implementation very fast, while the short learning curve has encouraged our project managers and engineers to make maximum use of the software. Reporting within the system allows us to keep track of our key performance indicators."

Commissioning a job management system can sometimes be very complex and time consuming. Lafuncar found that MyWorkPLAN could be implemented with the minimum of disruption to its activities. Jordi López says, "MyWorkPLAN was simple and quick to install and its ease of use has ensured rapid uptake by our employees. The management of the installation by Sescoi has provided us with a system which suits our business exactly, and the post sales service we have received is unbeatable."

MyWorkPLAN now plays a crucial role at Lafuncar, as all the documentation, costing, and labour times are recorded and amalgamated within it. Jordi López concludes, "Without MyWorkPLAN we would be unable to produce quotations and we would not be able to initiate the manufacturing process. It is a vital part of our management system and contributes significantly to cost reduction and production efficiency."