CJ Sheeran

CJ Sheeran is the largest timber packaging and pallet manufacturing company in Ireland. It operates across multiple sites, combining warehouse buildings with large outdoor compound areas.

As part of a large digital transformation programme, CJ Sheeran engaged Timewise Systems to deliver the mobile technology to support it.

The deployment environment set this project apart. Much of the work happens outdoors, across large compound areas where the devices have to go to work. The project also carried a tight timeline, with devices needed at multiple sites within a short timeframe.

Robert Nolan, Head of IT at CJ Sheeran, explains that the company looked at various solutions and systems with Timewise as the programme took shape. Timewise used a consultative process to understand what the sites would demand of the technology.

The project set four main requirements:

• Devices tough enough for a largely outdoor environment of warehouse buildings and large compounds
• Secure, stable connectivity to the host systems
• Deployment across multiple sites within a very tight timeline, with the right device in each location, connected and working
• A real-time view of stock and inventory across all sites

Through its consultative process, Timewise provided a range of technologies and expertise to meet these requirements:

• Rugged industrial handheld computers and tablets, built for the environment
• Barcode scanning, mobile computers and label printers
• RFID scanning devices, supporting CJ Sheeran’s loop business model
• Expertise to manage device connectivity and the Android operating system, keeping devices secure and stable

CJ Sheeran set an ambitious timescale. Timewise implemented and rolled out the systems and trained CJ Sheeran’s users on them, so that the technology was in place for the target go-live date.

Devices were deployed across multiple sites, with the right device available in each location, connected and working.

With deployment complete, the benefits for CJ Sheeran include:

• A real-time view of stock and inventory across all sites, also reflected back from a financial perspective
• Live, shared visibility of each other’s systems, so a site manager can check stock on a handheld instead of going into the shed
• More efficient intake of stock
• Greater confidence in adopting new technology, and a readiness to look beyond it

Robert Nolan describes the real-time view of stock and inventory across all sites as the main benefit of the project. Paul Sydes, Site Manager at CJ Sheeran, says the live system lets him see what is in stock from his handheld and confirm whether he can fulfil an order.

The project reflects the Timewise approach of building long-term partnerships, supported by more than 25 years of mobile computer deployments.