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.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article