CASE STUDIES

MGS Technical Plastics

From the factory floor to the customer: how MGS Technical Plastics uses live data from intouch to stay in control

MGS Technical Plastics is a UK injection moulding specialist using Intouch across all 19 injection moulding machines. With reliable, live production data at its fingertips, MGS can improve utilisation, plan capacity, reduce downtime and make better commercial decisions, while giving customers instant updates on their jobs through the intouch app.

MGS wanted a clearer understanding of how its manufacturing resources were being used and where improvements could be made.

Machine utilisation was a particular focus. The team needed to understand where production time was being lost, how efficiently jobs were running and where capacity was available.

Intouch has given MGS that visibility through reliable, real-time production data. It works alongside the company’s existing ERP processes and gives teams across the business a live view of what is happening in production.

Today, MGS uses intouch to improve production planning, optimise processes, respond faster to downtime and support capacity and investment decisions.

Managing Director Judson Smyth also uses the intouch app when updating customers, giving them live information on how their production is performing and when their order will be ready.

Watch our case study video:

The challenge

One of MGS’s biggest priorities was understanding machine utilisation.

The business already had an ERP system to manage manufacturing orders and information such as bills of materials, but it needed a clearer picture of what was actually happening on the factory floor.

As Manufacturing Project Engineer Kail Sturgess explains:

'We didn't know how long toolsets were taking. We didn't know how long material was drying and how long we were using not actually producing parts.'

Kail Sturgess, Manufacturing Project Engineer

MGS had previously used a wireless MES system, but recurring reliability issues meant the team couldn’t consistently rely on the production data it provided.

The business needed a more dependable solution that could work alongside its ERP system and provide accurate, live insight into production performance.

This led MGS to intouch.

The approach

MGS wanted reliable production data without adding unnecessary complexity to its existing processes.

Intouch was integrated alongside the company’s ERP environment, with manufacturing orders transferred into the system through a process Kail describes as “quite seamless”.

The team also validated the information being collected. Scrap figures recorded through Intouch were tested against MGS’s existing production sheets. Once the figures were proven to match, the business had the confidence to remove the duplicated manual process and use Intouch as its production data source.

Implementation was straightforward too.

Judson explains:

“The implementation for MGS went really easily.”

For Judson, that simplicity mattered. His team was able to manage the implementation without requiring significant involvement from senior management, allowing him to remain focused on running the wider business.

The solution

Intouch now monitors all 19 injection moulding machines at MGS, giving teams live visibility of production performance across the factory.

Machine utilisation data shows where capacity is being used effectively and where production time is being lost. Cycle monitoring gives MGS greater insight into manual jobs, helping the team understand machine and operator performance against target cycle times.

Visual displays around the factory make production status immediately visible. When a machine stops, technicians can respond faster, helping MGS reduce downtime and improve overall equipment efficiency.

Production Planner Craig Parkinson also uses intouch to understand when jobs will actually be completed. Rather than relying on calculations or estimates, the team can see expected completion times using live production information.

That supports planning across labour, materials and logistics. If a machine is heavily loaded, MGS can identify alternative machines with suitable capacity and move production to maintain product flow.

Operators also use Intouch directly at the machine to record scrap as it occurs, removing unnecessary paperwork and giving the wider business immediate access to the information.

Key Results

Live production monitoring across all 19 injection moulding machines

Better machine utilisation and capacity planning

Faster response to machine issues, helping reduce downtime

Improved visibility supporting increased OEE utilisation

Trusted data supporting capacity modelling and capex planning

Better job allocation across available machines

Improved labour, material and logistics planning

Live customer updates on production progress and completion

Greater operator accountability and continuous improvement

For MGS, intouch has become much more than a way to monitor machines. Reliable production data is helping teams make better decisions across manufacturing, planning, logistics and management, while giving customers greater visibility of their orders.

The result

Intouch has given MGS a trusted, live view of production that supports decisions across the business.

Better utilisation data helps the team allocate jobs to the right machines, identify spare capacity and plan future production more effectively. Live factory displays also help technicians respond faster to machine issues, reducing downtime and supporting improved OEE utilisation.

For Judson, confidence in the data means MGS can use it for important commercial decisions, including capacity modelling and capex planning.

“The integrity of the data is critical, and since implementing Intouch, we’ve had full faith in it.”

The benefits also extend directly to MGS customers.

Live production data gives the team greater confidence when communicating job progress, helping them provide faster, more accurate updates without having to check back with the factory.

For MGS, greater production visibility is helping create a more responsive and informed customer experience.

'It allows me to take my phone out when I'm visiting a customer, show them exactly where their production is up to, how well we're manufacturing it, and when it'll be ready.'

Judson Smyth, Managing Director

Conclusion

For MGS Technical Plastics, trusted production data is helping improve much more than machine performance.

Intouch gives the team the live information needed to plan capacity, allocate work, respond faster to downtime and continuously improve production. At management level, the same trusted data supports decisions around future capacity, investment and business growth.

It is also helping MGS deliver a more responsive service to its customers. Whether a customer calls for an update or Judson is sitting with them face to face, live production information is immediately available through the intouch app.

As Judson explains, Intouch gives MGS the confidence to use its data to find ways to manufacture “better, simpler and faster”, ultimately benefiting both the business and its customers.

As MGS continues to expand its manufacturing capabilities, Intouch will remain part of that journey, with plans to extend the system into its new engineering division and bring the same trusted, data-driven approach to more areas of the business.