JMS Timberworks:Layout 1

Timberworks grows in capacity but reduces in size
PURCHASING joinery software
three years ago has caused Timberworks to change its philosophy, believing that investment
in machines and software rather
than employees is the key to
greater efficiency and improved
profitability. Timberworks is unusual because as the business
has increased, it has reduced the
number of employees.
Based in Port Talbot, Wales, Timberworks has a reputation for producing beautiful hand crafted
bespoke kitchens, windows,
doors, frames and stairs. Formed
three years ago as a limited company, owner Gerwyn Lloyd has
had up to four joiners working for
him. Relying solely upon word of
mouth advertising, they have
been expanding over the past
three years to accommodate the
increased level of work, and now
turnover around £250,000 per
year. Remarkably, they now only
have two employees, husband
and wife team, Susan and Gerwyn
Lloyd, relying upon subcontractors when needed.
With large contracts in the
pipeline, Timberworks investigated joinery software, looking for
a time saving solution. Viewing articles about Joinerysoft in the
trade press, Timberworks requested a demonstration and was
instantly won over. Sue Lloyd comments, “We liked the ease of design through to construction.
Joinerysoft’s Joinery Management
Software (JMS) is so simple that
once you have drawn an item, you
already have the cutting list and
everything.”
Purchasing JMS three years ago
has allowed the company to improve its design function, providing
customers with detailed diagrams
of finished items, as well as saving
time in the office and workshop.
“Customers have been really impressed with the fact that we can
show them individual drawings for
windows and screens for each job.
They can really see what they are
getting now,” says Sue. JMS design
capabilities give the customer confidence that Timberworks can do
what it promises, and provide a professional approach that wins orders.
An order for a bi-fold door was only
won because JMS could design and
draw the doors before the order
was placed.
JMS generated quotes with diagrams and instant cutting lists
save Timberworks about two days
each week, allowing the husband
and wife team to regain their
weekends. Timberworks was also
able to pay Joinerysoft in installments, which was helpful because
payments for a big windows contract the company was doing were
also spread over a few months.
Faced with production problems with employees, Timberworks last year took the unusual
step of firing all their employees,
leaving the business to be run by
Susan and Gerwyn. “Purchasing
JMS has shown us what software
can accomplish. We are now confident that the way forward to
greater efficiency and professional
service is to invest in machines
and software,” explains Sue. “We
were fed up with production problems that were all down to employees. Joinerysoft has spurred
us on to go further with software,
and changed our philosophy in
the process.”
Receiving two days training by a
qualified joiner, Sue comments, “I
didn’t think it would be that
simple. It was helpful that the installer was a joiner because he
knew what we were talking about.”
Training and installation is tailored
to a company’s needs, resulting in
specific training for how each company does things. Sue was able to
concentrate on pricing and design
elements, while Gerwyn was able
to learn how to set up Timberworks’ most commonly used profiles. Sue explains, “I’m not a joiner,
I couldn’t tell you what profiles we
use, but now that Gerwyn has set
up all the joinery profiles I can design and quote simply be selecting
a style and size.” Joinerysoft support is always only a phone call
away, ensuring quick answers to
‘how to’ questions.
Investing in machinery is now a
priority for Timberworks. A recent
purchase of an SCM spindle moulder has resulted in significant time
savings. With JMS generated cutting lists, and automated machining, Gerwyn can now manufacture
components for a window in 35
minutes, instead of the previous
four hours. Gerwyn says, “Purchasing JMS has shown us what software and automation can do for
us. JMS has given us the confidence to purchase additional machinery, and started us off on a
route that we wouldn’t have considered before.”
Susan summarises, “Joinerysoft
has made it easier for us to grow
and keep track of our profit margins. It has been the catalyst for
change. We have changed from investing in people to investing in
software and machines, giving us
more control of our own destiny.
We now believe that it is not the
people that make the money, it is
the machines and the software.”
Timberworks
Tel 01639 852695
timberworkswales@aol.com
www.timberworkswales.co.uk
Joinerysoft Ltd
Tel 01608 643302
enquiries@joinerysoft.com
www.joinerysoft.com