With a product range encompassing desks, chairs, dormitory equipment and storage units developed specifically for the educational sector, the Stourport-On-Severn based company has established a 10-year track record of success.

Until recently, the majority of its sales have been to private schools.  But thanks to its investment in high capability Cabinet Vision software and SCM CNC board cutting equipment, Witley Jones has grown its business by 50% during the past two years and is now aggressively targeting the state and higher education sector.

"Until 2004, we had been a traditional woodworking operation," says managing director Chris Jones.  "Much of our business involves customising relatively high value furniture products to specific installations.  No two projects are ever the same, so when we started to look seriously at investing in CAD/CAM technology, design flexibility was high on our list of requirements.  Likewise, time is always at a premium on our contracts, so the ability to link from design proposals seamlessly through to manufacturing - with automatic generation of machining programmes - was regarded as equally essential.

"It was also vital that the selected system could produce accurate, high quality images of finished room layouts for inclusion in our sales presentations to potential customers - enabling us to secure contracts in the first place."

After evaluating a number of alternatives, Witley Jones selected Cabinet Vision - not only to meet its immediate requirements, but as a system that would underpin the company's future growth.

At first, the system was employed to speed up the generation of design proposals and cutting lists.  But within 12 months, the company had invested in an SCM CNC board cutting machine - opening the way for major improvements in its manufacturing operations.

One of the system's strengths is its ability to handle families of products, such as table or storage units, which the company tailors to individual locations.

"We typically work from our own site surveys - or architects' drawings - and use Cabinet Vision to determine the best layout for each classroom or dormitory," Jones continues.  "Using the system's parametric modelling capabilities, it is simply a matter of entering the required dimensions in order to quickly modify products to fit the available space."

Not only does the software update each item's external dimensions, it also automatically generates the machining programme for its constituent parts.  This both saves a huge amount of design time on each job and ensures that errors due to mismatched components are eliminated.  Likewise, the system's interfacing with the SCM machine enables the most efficient sheet nest to be determined and verified on-screen - allowing complete kits of parts to be manufactured with minimal operator input.

Witley Jones also takes full advantage of Cabinet Vision's ability to create sub-routines for the attachment of doors, hinges or other fittings, which are re-applied across the company's full product range.  Design amendments are also easily accommodated, with automatic updating of component toolpaths and revised room layouts available on screen or as printouts for customer sign off.  "We now have the confidence that if everything is correct on screen, all the units will fit together without a problem when we get to site," says Jones.

"Effectively, we have a fully integrated process from initial proposal right through to manufacture and installation, without the need for data re-entry.  This has produced significant savings in both our production and rework costs.  But just as importantly, manufacturing lead times - a key consideration because of our frequent need to complete installations during school holidays - have improved as well."

"The overall effect on our manufacturing capabilities has been dramatic," he continues.  "The Cabinet Vision system enables us to run our SCM machine for up to 14 hours per day, with far better utilisation of our resources than before."

Despite the company's increase in manufacturing throughput over the past two years, Cabinet Vision's ability to accurately plan material requirements has enabled Witley Jones to achieve additional cost savings, by reducing raw material stock holding and purchasing board on a 'Just in Time' basis.

Other system benefits include the flexibility to re-nest components 'on the fly' or instantly recall product data on specific contracts in order to rapidly remanufacture any components that may have been damaged on site.

"Since its installation, Cabinet Vision has established itself at the centre of our operations," says Jones.  "By enhancing in-house skills and capabilities without increasing our overheads it has reinforced our ability to drive the company forward."

The system has also strengthened relationships between the organisation's drawing office, marketing staff and shop floor; a situation that will continue to develop as the company looks to make full use of Cabinet Vision's costing module over the coming months.

The ability to respond quickly to new opportunities is a cornerstone of Witley Jones' success.  So it's no surprise that the company is already looking to invest in a further SCM CNC machine - again to be driven by Cabinet Vision software.

"The benefits of single data entry and automatic generation of machining programmes provide us with a major advantage," says Jones.  "A second machine would add further strings to our bow as we continue to grow.

"We aim to double turnover in the next five years by increasing our market share in the state schooling and higher educational sectors.  The application of advanced CAD/CAM technology at the heart of our operations makes that entirely achievable."

About Cabinet Vision

Cabinet Vision is a leading design to manufacturing solution for bespoke woodwork manufacturers, whether they manufacture by hand or employ the latest CNC technology.  Cabinet Vision is a principal brand of the Planit group - recently ranked by CIMdata as the world's fastest growing CAM vendor, with most industrial users. 

www.planit.com

www.alphacam.com