Paragon software helps integrate and manage complex, large-scale operation. ABN, a division of AB Agri, one of the UK’s largest and most successful agri-foods businesses has selected Paragon’s routing, scheduling and transport optimisation software to streamline planning throughout its complex pig and poultry animal feed business. By changing from disparate local planning at each site to automated central planning using Paragon, ABN has achieved increased control and central visibility, and delivered significant mileage and cost savings through efficient inter-working of previously separate fleets, at the same time meeting customer delivery expectations.
Releasing Benefits
ABN, which operates nine feed mills in Great Britain has extended its use of Paragon software by introducing a centrally planned solution for its large scale animal feeds operation. The company already had positive experience using the Paragon solution in its Southern Region and looked to roll out a best-fit solution nationwide, in order to realise the benefits of a single unified and centralised transport management and optimisation solution.
In selecting Paragon’s Integrated Fleets solution, regional logistics manager, Chris Barnes explains: “From a routing and scheduling perspective, Paragon clearly offered the most flexible solution overall in meeting the demands of what is a highly complex and large scale manufacturing and distribution process. With the added benefit of offering additional screens for use in individual mills and Citrix access capabilities for more streamlined planning, Paragon was the obvious choice to meet our needs.”
Central Planning + Local Visibility
Paragon is used centrally to plan over 100 vehicles operating out of nine mills across the country. Animal feed orders are built up in ABN’s order processing system and uploaded to Paragon each day for optimising routes and schedules. A central Paragon system is used to plan both northern and southern regions, with extra screens in each mill connected to ABN’s central network providing full visibility, so helping the company to integrate its manufacturing and distribution processes.
“This has enabled major business change at ABN, from previously local manual planning at each mill to centralised, automated planning,” confirms Barnes. “The increased control and central visibility offered by Paragon’s software has delivered significant mileage and cost savings – through more efficient inter-working of previously separate fleets – at the same time meeting all our customers’ delivery demands,” explains Barnes.
Customer Service
Barnes has been impressed by the results already achieved. “Our routing and scheduling system has to meet the demands of a dynamic and fluid customer base,” he explains. “The Paragon system ensures we meet a wide range of delivery requirements, often at very short notice, at the same time taking account of such constraints as the need to use compartmented vehicles in order to avoid the risk of cross contamination.”
Paragon’s marketing and business development director, Charles Nockold, believes: “Using Paragon Integrated Fleets with extra screens at each depot is the ideal multi-site transport optimisation option for businesses such as ABN who have large, complex scheduling requirements.
“It enables vehicles and drivers at multiple locations to be treated as a single integrated transport resource, so that movements from different distribution or manufacturing sites can be combined into efficient routes that reduce overall empty running, so improving asset utilisation and productivity.”
Paragon Software Systems
Jane Geary
Tel: 01306 732600
ABN – www.abagri.com
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