COMPUTER simulation is helping ring the changes at Silentnight Beds.

The firm, Britain's leading bed makers, have called in experts from Bolton Institute to help them reorganise manufacturing, storage and distribution at their Barnoldswick plant.

"The process of simulation allows us to assess the benefits and pitfalls of different approaches to planning and factory layouts," said Stephen Broomfield, logistics manager at Silentnight.

"The speed at which the results can be obtained is remarkable. The computer system allows us to simulate 10 days' worth of production in less than 10 minutes."

The computer software simulates changes to the way beds are manufactured, how they are packaged for delivery and how they are stored and despatched.

The £2 million programme at Silentnight is expected to be completed within two years.

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