Irish Medical Firm Hails NI Software

A Co Antrim software business has excelled in winning a cross-border business deal with a Dublin-based medical devices manufacturer FlexiMed Ltd.

It has selected the Manufacturing Enterprise Management system, 123insight supplied by Quality Manufacturing Systems (QMS), based in Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey, to run its operations.

FlexiMed, which is an expansion of the Flexi Group has diversified into the medical devices sector, initially attended a 123insight evaluation workshop to assess the capability of the software.

Commented Susan Maguire, Managing Director of FlexiMed: "We knew that we needed a management system to support our diversification into the medical devices sector, where we're required by the regulatory bodies to have a system that complies with the most stringent of traceability requirements under ISO 13485, which includes complete Device History Records.

"In July we received an invitation to attend a free 123insight evaluation workshop at the Institute of Technology, Tallaght in Dublin.

"We were immediately impressed with how the system was presented as it was simple, concise and straight to the point. It clearly demonstrated how it would work and the benefits it would deliver.

"We were also impressed by the ease of entry to the product as we could acquire the software without any capital outlay under the 123insight Pay-As-You-Go Monthly rental basis.

"We could also attend the training course without obligation at the 123insight offices in Southampton to prove the system was the right fit for our business if we had any doubts as to its suitability for our requirements," she continued.

"However, ultimately we decided to book and pay for the training locally through QM Systems without taking up the no obligation training offer because we were totally convinced that 123insight was right for our business. The system had the highest levels of traceability built in as standard and overall it just made good business sense," noting that she did assess other suppliers to ensure due diligence "but the facts are that the bar had been set so high with the Evaluation Workshop presentation of 123insight that we knew within five minutes of looking at the other potential suppliers that they were not what we were looking for".

She said: "In mid August 2010 we decided to book training and commence using the software and we completed our seven days of training on 8th September and have plans to 'go live' across all departments by September 30th - which is completely remarkable considering that other suppliers were quoting months for implementation."

Also commenting, Drew McCoubrey, Managing Director of QM Systems (pictured) said: "What FlexiMed have done is simply take advantage of a compelling business proposition which makes absolute sense not just for them but for any company looking to acquire a Manufacturing Enterprise Management solution.

"The 123insight Evaluation Workshop in Dublin (supported by an Invest NI business grant) demonstrated two aspects of our approach. One was the capability of the software to support the most demanding of business processes with stringent traceability requirements, and the second highlighting our business proposition versus the risks and pitfalls of the traditional way of doing business in this sector which involves a substantial capital outlay and risk."

He said that FlexiMed simply followed the well-trodden path taken by many other 123insight customers in the Irish market such as Canyon Europe, Patton Joinery, Thompson Aero Seating, McCloskey International, Pollock Lifts and Nugent Engineering.

"Now they too will gain the same results - a successful, risk free implementation that will increase their profitability whilst keeping costs to an absolute minimum," he said.

Drew concluded by offering other manufacturing companies who may be interested in following the lead of FlexiMed that they should go to www.123insight.com for details of the next free evaluation workshop.

(BMcC/KMcA)