When there is a problem, making a decision in a vacuum is the worst thing you can do.

Get input from others within your organization. If possible, consult those at various levels. By being open with others as to the nature of the problem, and enlisting their help in determining the right solution, resistance to the recommended solution is quite often greatly reduced.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Seems obvious – you want real time data and you want it to be accurate. Do you have the systems in place to allow for this?

Here are 4 reasons you need a data collection system:

1. See the differences between actuals and standards
2. Determine the source of project overruns
3. Prevent mis-shipments to customers
4. Avoid unnecessary reordering of parts

An automated data collection system will analyze your current data, allowing you to efficiently optimize your manufacturing and the benefits will be huge and far reaching.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Do you have a strong relationship with your suppliers? Do they know your every need/want? No? Well, why not?  

The key to any good relationship is communication. Have you established clear and consistent communication with your suppliers? Consider establishing a way for both of you to share information with each other electronically.

A portal is a good way to achieve this. Documents can be shared, updates on deliveries can be communicated with ease, and changes that can affect both your operations and theirs can be communicated efficiently and effectively.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

When is the last time you took a hard look at your production lines?

• How are we moving product through our facility?
• Do we have work instructions / drawings available where needed?
• Do we have frequently used inventory available at the line?
• Where are the bottlenecks?
• Are processes automated, where possible?

Taking a hard look at your processes and procedures may reveal some interesting results. Don’t assume that everyone is doing things the same way. Some may be superstars, and others may need some mentoring. Some processes may be outdated and costing you time and money, while others are extremely efficient. One area of the business may benefit from how others operate. Take the time to review and analyze your findings. Your company may benefit greatly as a result.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Such lofty goals you had when you implemented your ERP system. It was going to be like pressing the “Easy Button”…  then it wasn’t.

What happened? In some cases, decisions were made to implement the system “just like we used to run our old system”. Great idea? Not so much. Your business changes, and your business software needs to change as well.

Are you using the ERP system, but everything seems cumbersome and takes more time than its worth? Ask yourself these questions:

• Have you looked at streamlining your processes?
• Can you automate a step or two and eliminate some manual keying?
• Can you add barcoding to avoid keying in some information altogether?
• How about automating the printing of some reports?

Now is the time to sit down and really review the steps required to complete the task and think out of the box a bit. Soon you can develop your own streamlined process to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

I hate getting lost. I feel out of control and helpless. Thank God my dad taught me early on how to read a map. Maps give us direction, points of reference, and helps us navigate the obstacles in our way.  

Do you have roadmap for your ERP system, or are you lost? An ERP roadmap can give your staff direction. It should help you create a stronger workforce that is well prepared to meet the future needs of your business. Take a hard look at what your ERP is, or isn’t doing for you. Chances are, there is much that can be done, and all you need to do is start plotting out your map. 

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

1. Eliminate paper shop packet and distribution of the paperwork to the shop floor.     
2. Eliminate manual (paper-based) recording activities and the need to key in the transactions.
3. Easy electronic scheduling by sequence and changing job priorities.
4. Evaluate differences using actual times compared to standards.
5. Improve data accuracy and eliminate the need to chase and fix errors.
6. Practice Real-Time data reporting to monitor efficiencies and identify problems as they occur.

Optimize Your Manufacturing Today!

Crenlo, a leading manufacturer of cab and enclosure products, has elected to expand their partnership with Crossroads RMC to achieve greater efficiency within their operations. Phase 1 of the implementation will include RMCship (FedEx/UPS integration with Baan), RMCbuild (analysis of current inventory for production needs), Paperless Pick Web Collect Data Collection for their service orders and remote warehouse, and the development of a web-based quality inspection application which will be integrated with their Baan ERP system.