During this first quarter of 2026, we are replacing our existing MRP (Material Requirements Planning Software) to the advanced CIM 50 manufacturing system.
This strategic upgrade is set to streamline our entire business workflow, making improvements across stock management, production scheduling, and financial reporting, enhancing service quality for our UK and European customer base.
Material Requirements Planning (MRP) software is essential for us, as we manage complex processes involving chemical repacking, blending, and custom formulations. The system calculates the materials, components, and resources needed to meet customer demand, ensuring our 'Just-in-Time' approach.
The transition to CIM 50 is designed to maximise control and visibility across all manufacturing activities. According to CIM Software’s planning overview the software's key features, which directly benefit a chemical service provider, include:
- Advanced Stock Control: Moving beyond basic inventory tracking to manage traceability of specific batches and serial numbers—critical for quality assurance and regulatory compliance in the chemical sector.
- Works Orders & Production Scheduling: Efficiently managing production tasks, from custom chemical formulation to the filling and packaging process, ensuring manufacturing deadlines are met.
- Just-in-Time Planning: Generating automated recommendations for purchasing raw materials and scheduling manufacturing runs based on live customer demand, thereby reducing the need for large stock holdings and improving cash flow.
A central benefit of the new CIM 50 system is the expected improvement in reporting. For an ISO 9001-certified business like Actikem, maintaining detailed records and providing comprehensive Certificates of Analysis (CoA) is paramount.
The enhanced reporting functionality will allow Actikem to:
- Capture real-time data on production costs (labour, machine, and material overheads).
- Provide a complete audit trail for every component and batch throughout the manufacturing and repacking process.
- Generate deeper insights into resource utilisation and production bottlenecks, informing continuous improvement initiatives.
Actikem’s Operations Director, Trevor Gleave commented, ‘The investment in CIM 50 is a statement of our commitment to operational excellence. It is the logical next step in our digital strategy, following previous investments in specialised drum fillers and labelling technology.
This new MRP system will be the backbone of our operations, allowing us to manage the complexity of chemical repacking and blending more efficiently, reduce costs, and provide our customers with even more transparent and comprehensive data, reinforcing our reputation for an unrivalled service.’
By seamlessly integrating these functions, Actikem aims to significantly reduce administrative overhead, minimise errors, and ensure all manufacturing and repacking services - from bulk tanker decanting to bespoke blending - are executed with maximum productivity.