Dartington Crystal
Dartington Crystal (Torrington)
Dartington Crystal (Torrington) uses Mitrefinch TMS to monitor staff and create hours for payroll
Dartington Crystal (Torrington) is based in Devon and manufactures traditional UK glassware including wine suites, barware, bowls, vases and gifts. The company currently employs approximately 100 staff.
In 2002 Dartington Crystal made the decision to replace the manual clocking card system and introduce a Time & Attendance system. The Mitrefinch system fitted the bill perfectly, firstly being good value for money and secondly, easily integrated with the company's current payroll system.
We contacted Elaine Fazackerley, IT Manager at Dartington Crystal to find out how the system has benefited the company and also why she chose the Mitrefinch system .... ....
"We originally decided to introduce a Time and Attendance system to replace the manual clocking card system. We felt there were significant cost savings to be made from a system which could collate the clocking data and calculate the hours to be paid each week, whilst still retaining the ultimate control of the department supervisors who authorise any anomaly".
The Mitrefinch Time & Attendance system has provided a simple and flexible solution which has allowed Dartington Crystal to react to their ever changing business needs. In particular, they have been able to introduce and monitor comprehensive work life balance schemes, including flexible working.
Elaine explains how staff reacted to changing from a manual to a computerised time and attendance system: "Although initial concerns were aired by some staff about carrying cards in a factory environment with hot furnaces, this never became an issue when the system was actually introduced. Staff now have the benefit of accurate and timely flexi balances and an easily administered flexible working scheme."
"Benefits? Here are a just a few - visibility of information to departmental supervisors, absence analysis and an automated method of recording hours to be paid, which includes flexi-time." Eventually, Elaine hopes to integrate this system with their payroll system for increased efficiency and improved data integrity.
Concentrated on-site training was provided by Mitrefinch as standard when the system was first installed. Subsequently, Dartington Crystal required a more personalised and less intense form of training, which was carried out by Mitrefinch, on-site to Dartington's delight.
