RIGIBORE


Rigibore's innovative and strategic approach to e-business gave
it the confidence to create its own integrated system to increase
efficiency and improve information sharing.

Best practice in:   Technology
Sector:             Engineering
Size of firm:       30 employees
Location:           Hayle, Cornwall
Website:  www.rigibore.com


OBJECTIVES

Rigibore manufactures precision cutting tools to bore holes in
metal. That technology is central to the business is evident from
the company's mission statement: 'Innovation in technology and
quality in design and manufacture.'
Having used CAD for many years, the company saw that a
custom-built, automated design system had the potential to
generate improved cost and time savings, and give its customers
more control over the product.
The new system integrates the whole manufacturing process
from design through to tooling and production, by eliminating
the labour-intensive process of converting designs into machine
instructions. As Suzanne Bassett, Marketing Manager at
Rigibore, enthuses: "We can do in two minutes on our system
what would take us two hours to do using CAD software."
The software used to create the designs is simple so that even
customers with limited knowledge of tool design can use it,
and then e-mail their designs to Rigibore. Building on this
success, Rigibore developed a custom tool specifier for its
website. This allows customers to choose the type of hole they
want to bore or drill, submit the dimensions and then produce a
design. This information is then sent to Rigibore, which can
quickly respond with an accurate quote or just begin production.
With the manufacturing and ordering processes integrated,
Rigibore moved to connect up its other back-office systems.
Its accounting software contains the stock management and
links into the design software. In turn, information from the
stock management system and the customer database is used
to calculate discounts and create automatic quotations for
customers.


THE BENEFITS

Rigibore's decision to create bespoke software has paid
dividends. The design and manufacturing software has
dramatically cut the design and engineering time of tool making
- by up to 90%. It has also significantly reduced errors and
improved customer relationships by opening the process to
customer involvement.
With integrated back-office systems, errors have been reduced
and the time needed to process an order cut dramatically.
Bearing in mind what its customers prefer to use websites
for, Rigibore focused on creating a site that generated leads,
explained its products and demonstrated its capabilities.
The results, in terms of new business, have exceeded all
expectations.


THE CHALLENGES

With the pace of technological change, Suzanne thinks that:
"If we hadn't developed the systems we have, perhaps the
business wouldn't be here now. Certainly, we wouldn't be
competing in global markets."
She's also adamant that businesses need to adopt a strategic
approach to technology investment. "We have a very definite
vision of what is needed. The decision to go down a non-CAD
route was a deliberate move to help us meet that vision," she
explains. "We have always directed and managed projects in
this way."
The company is already planning its next move. When it
becomes available in its area, Rigibore will get broadband to
connect to its satellite office in the US.


THE LAST WORD

Rigibore is convinced that, by giving employees the autonomy
and encouragement to develop their skills and ideas, it will see
the potential of technology and help drive forward its use.
Suzanne's advice to other companies is: "Dare to be different.
If somebody has a belief in an idea, stand by it and see it
through to the end."

"We're a small company with a small team, and the
fact that we're still up there is testament to our use
of technology."

SUZANNE BASSETT - MARKETING MANAGER