Marcom, a division of Astrapak, produces high volumes of rigid moulded, and thermoformed plastic packaging products. Marcom uses TransLution™ Software to automate job functions and improve stock take.

 Marcom, based in Rosslyn, is one of four Astrapak sites using TransLution™. The software prints job labels based on the job data in SYSPRO – there are as many labels printed as required by the job and no more. Each label is uniquely identified with a serial number. The labels are scanned at the end of production to post a job receipt. The system ensures that no label is scanned twice.

Marcom also utilises TransLution™ for its pallet building process – labels are scanned to build a pallet and when the pallet is complete, a Pallet Slip is printed to show its contents. This also contains a barcode – when goods are transferred and there are multiple boxes on a pallet, only a single scan of the pallet barcode is required. The Goods in Transit transactions are posted to Syspro as the pallet labels are scanned, both when putting items into transit and when taking them out of transit.

Marcom also uses TransLution™ Software to facilitate stock take. The scanning process ensures that users do not scan the same box twice, meaning they have to move through the warehouse scanning each box to count it. This data is then viewed on a grid to check for anomalies and subsequently posted to a SYSPRO™ stock take session.

To simplify the stock take process, TransLution™ was customised to remove the need for users to select a function on the scanner. The user simply scans a barcode and the system will automatically determine what was scanned and how many units the scan represents. This makes the system significantly easier for end-users.

The goal is to extend these improvements into several other Astrapak sites.

About

RPC Astrapak is a specialised manufacturer of an extensive range of rigid moulded, and thermoformed plastic packaging products serving the African market. The Group focuses on innovation-led growth in plastic packaging and is structured for long-term sustainability through a balance of organic and project based growth.

TransLution™ software was developed to assist manufacturing, warehousing and distribution companies to better manage their business processes and stock handling. The TransLution™ product is particularly focussed on robust integration to customers’ existing ERP, accounting and stock management software for a wide range of transactions. TransLution™ is distributed in Africa by Afrisoft Africa (Pty) Ltd and in Europe by K3 SYSPRO.

Afrisoft Africa (Pty) Ltd was founded in 1998 to serve the specialised needs of agribusiness, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution companies. Afrisoft provides consulting services for business improvement and distributes, implements and supports TransLution™, AGRIS™ and other business improvement software in Africa.