CSH simplifies control of labour expense at Dairypack with Time and Attendance

CS Systems Integration, a division of the JSE-listed CS Holdings, has successfully implemented a Time and Attendance system for the Aeroton branch of Polyoak, SA`s national manufacturers of plastic packaging, trading as Dairypack.

Dairypack specialises in providing the dairy and juice industries with a wide variety of plastic bottles and ice-cream tubs. The company recently launched an innovative range of PET bottles, which has been very well received in the juice industry. Dairypack also has branches in Natal, Eastern Cape, Bloemfontein, Mpumalanga and Pietersburg.

"Kronos hardware and software, as well as a payroll interface, were used in the installation of the system at Dairypack`s Aeroton branch factory and two remote sites," explains CS Systems Integration project manager Jacques Viljoen.

"A Microsoft Terminal Server links the Time and Attendance communications between the three sites, through Dairypack`s existing LAN and WAN system. Using these hardware devices and software applications, Dairypack can quickly and automatically collect basic labour data directly from their employees. The system then transforms that data into valuable information and delivers it to the managers throughout the organisation. This vital information enables Dairypack to measure and improve workforce productivity. "The system automates and streamlines the management, collection, and distribution of employee hours," Viljoen continues. "It also simplifies the control of labour expense throughout the company. More importantly, the system allows anyone who requires this business-critical data - Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, etc - to access the information from anywhere in the organisation."

"The new system has eliminated the need for manual timesheets and timecards," says Vince Bathgate, raw materials manager at Dairypack. "Consequently, employee hours are now recorded, totalled, edited and reported, and the correct labour rates and data for payroll is accurately calculated. Additionally, real-time reports for analysis by management can be generated on demand.

"We considered three other systems before deciding on the solution offered by CS Systems Integration," he continues. "We were particularly attracted by the system`s flexibility and ease of use, which best suited our requirements. Since implementing the system, the time spent on managing labour information has reduced substantially, which has significantly enhanced productivity. Additionally, the beauty of the Time and Attendance system is that it will never become obsolete. It is fully expandable which means we can implement new modules as our business needs change."

"Consistent application of pay rules and policies within an organisation is key to controlling labour costs," says Viljoen. "The Kronos system allows Dairypack to track hours and wages by cost centre, department, or job, and to respond rapidly to changes in company policies and pay rules. The system captures all relevant labour data and applies the correct rules and policies when time-related events occur, such as arrival or departure from work, or transfer from one department to another.

"Capturing labour information as it happens is critical to produce an accurate payroll, track employee attendance, measure labour variances, and administer other time-related benefits. The system provides for stricter control of Dairypack personnel`s working hours, with the Kronos software and payroll interface ensuring accurate clock-ins for payroll purposes," Viljoen concludes.