Case Studies
Case Study 1 – Machine Shop, James Purdey & Sons Ltd.
James Purdey & Sons is an internationally renowned company that has been manufacturing what are among the world’s finest bespoke sporting firearms for nearly two centuries.
The backbone of Purdey’s success is still the outstanding craftsmanship devoted to finishing the bespoke guns by hand, but the company’s investment in modern computer-controlled machine tools for initial heavy metalwork has offset the rising cost of highly skilled traditional craftsmen. By CNC machining the majority of the heavy metalwork, many hours of craftsman bench time can be saved.
SYNERGY has worked with Purdey over a number of years to evolve and develop its machine shop IT system to meet the machine shop manager’s sophisticated needs.
SYNERGY became involved as Purdey moved from CNC machining controlled by manually inserted floppy disc, to the system of communication via RS232 serial data connections.
With three PCs in the drawing office, each needing to communicate with four CNC machines, SYNERGY implemented a software solution with a special 4-way serial port card.
As the demand for more design input increased, Purdey’s increased efficiency by locating main designer Ian Clarke at his home in Peterborough for three days a week, coming to the London factory for the other two. This coincided with the introduction of some new CNC machines that were communicated with via Ethernet rather than RS232 serial.
Ian needed to be able to design new work in Peterborough, and send the CNC programs he created to the CNC machines in London. Initially this was done with direct ISDN Remote Access Services, but latterly greater speed and efficiency has been available with VPN connection across standard ADSL broadband internet connections.
Currently, whilst based in Peterborough Ian can guide the probe of their 3D scanner using a video link, produce a 3D scan of an object, copy that 3D scan to his office in Peterborough, edit it and turn it into a CNC program which is then sent back to London. A worker can then load a billet into a CNC machine and Ian can load the program into that machine and monitor its progress - all without leaving his seat.
SYNERGY has some experience of CAD and graphics systems, and supplied all the CAD workstations and storage servers used at the gun factory, along with installing all the infrastructure cabling (RS232 initially, Ethernet latterly) and ADSL broadband connectivity. This is just one example of how SYNERGY can help with a broad range of remote working requirements.
Case Study 2 – John Kirk Wilson Architects Ltd.
John Kirk Wilson Ltd is an award winning firm of architects based in Farnham, Surrey, specializing in new build and interior design projects. Although based in Farnham, the company also has a small design office in Spain.
John Kirk Wilson had been sold a complete system comprising a Small Business Server, a couple of workstations and a high power laptop that John Wilson would use for design work in either office and during bi-weekly travel time between Farnham and Spain. The provider was a nationally known communications supplier who also provides IT solutions.
SYNERGY was contacted for independent consultancy advice when it was realised that this system supplier was falling short on both the original hardware/software specification and the level of service which was being paid for on a monthly basis. SYNERGY undertook an assessment and provided a report that was instrumental in John Kirk Wilson not only getting a refund of the original entire system cost, but also a substantial amount of financial compensation.
SYNERGY was then asked to provide a “system that works!” based around Microsoft’s Small Business Server suite.
CAD workstations that were capable of running the demanding design software were also supplied, together with a small lightweight laptop that the business owner uses to continue working during the fortnightly travel to Spain.
Windows-based mobile phones which enable everyone to stay in touch quickly and cheaply, even when out of the country, were added to the system.
SYNERGY was even able to arrange leasing of the complete system including the installation and setup, hardware and software.
Since moving to SYNERGY for its IT needs, John Kirk Wilson can forget about the day-to-day IP problems they used to contend with, and concentrate on their core business.
Case Study 3 – Gate A Mation Ltd
Gate A Mation is a supplier of premium automatic gate and access control systems countrywide. Projects range from domestic garage door systems to multi-gate systems on large estates.
SYNERGY was recommended to Gate A Mation when the company became dissatisfied with the level of service and expertise delivered by the incumbent supplier of IT services. SYNERGY was able to pinpoint the main areas of hardware deficiency and software
setup, and supplied two rack-mounted servers, one for e-mail and data and the other to host the company’s bespoke web-based business system.
SYNERGY worked with the designer of the business system, delivering mobile solutions to the on-site engineers and enabling them to complete on-line time sheets and job reports whilst still on site.
A feature of this specific case was that the client’s original system was not immediately capable of handling all the functions of the new and more versatile systems introduced by SYNERGY, and to ensure continuity during the changeover, SYNERGY kept the old system running in parallel as the new functions were progressively introduced over a period of time and the old system gradually phased out. This gave the client the reassurance that SYNERGY could be flexible enough to introduce the improvements in stages, avoiding the trauma of a one-off “big bang” solution and allowing the company to continue functioning fully whilst the new systems were being implemented and learned.
As SYNERGY supplied good quality hardware and the correct software solutions, Gate A Mation’s down-time and lost business time have dropped considerably compared to their previous system.
The business managers were also concerned about controlling staff use of the internet. SYNERGY has implemented a fully featured Web Browser Content Management system that makes it possible for the staff to have one level of internet access, and the directors another. Since using this system Gate A Mation has seen an increase in productivity and a decrease in the system downtime that infection by web-borne malware can cause when internet access is uncontrolled.
Gate A Mation has had an internet presence for many years, and actively markets via the web, and so over time has become a target for spam and other unsolicited e-mail. Using a software based scanning system on the mail server, SYNERGY has effectively protected Gate A Mation from an average 10,000 spam mail messages a month and around 50 e-mail borne viruses.
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