Chocolate Factory Gives Willy Wonka Golden Ticket of Reliability

The only thing that is sweeter than the chocolate in Springer Chocolate’s Windhoek factory is the reliability of their chocolate production. By investing in a Q-CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management System), Springer Chocolate provides their clients, such as Cadbury and Woolworths, with top class confectionery as well as the greatest benefit in any retail environment…predictability.

Springer Chocolates is a Namibian household name with a reputation that stretches back for 50 years. Like any good corporation, Springer is continuously looking for ways to add value to their products for clients.  One way they found to do this is to provide a guarantee of reliability.  The Windhoek-based business operates two manufacturing lines with multiple machines of varying complexity.  The products they produce under the Cadbury label are distributed to Woolworths stores throughout South Africa.

A breakdown can have serious consequences not only for Springer but also for the company’s clients who rely on the Springer’s ability to deliver products, on time, every time.  This need to guarantee supply prompted the chocolateer to install QBCon’s Q-CMMS, a computerised maintenance management software solution.  The goal of Q-CMMS is to reduce downtime and consequently operating costs by decreasing breakdowns. The system schedules maintenance work, keeps an inventory of the spare parts likely to be needed, and issues the job-cards for the maintenance.  This benefits Springer by ensuring that they can operate their machines for longer and at a lower cost.  Because they can schedule maintenance, Springer is able to better forecast their delivery ability.  This means they can increase production before maintenance or alert clients of the need to keep larger stock quantities when key equipment will be unavailable.  Q-CMMS also better enables clients like Woolworths to plan their own supply-chain management process and just in time (JIT) best practices since delivery is more predictable.

QBCon director of sales and marketing, Gustav Piater says that it is nice to know that the company has supplied a product that not only serves its client but also its client’s client. “Adding value to a client in difficult trading conditions gives our clients a competitive edge that goes far beyond the usual benefits of a CMMS product.”

Think of it as a Willy Wonka Golden ticket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Only the prize is not a tour of the factory, but profit.