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Fabricated Metal Manufacturers
are characterized by the requirement to manage multiple
product lines, with those product lines representing
a broad range of finished
goods. The complexities of the product lines supplied
range from standard stock products to simple
option oriented configurations
to complex dimensional and engineering variations. As
these markets continue to mature and expand,
these product line complexities
can translate into operational and technological challenges
that must be addressed by Fabricated Metal
Manufacturers to be successful.
Some of these challenges include:
- Increased Product Complexity: Changing market conditions dictate
increased options within existing product lines, as well as the
introduction of new product lines. Coordination across all departments
is required to maintain the existing product lines and effectively
roll out changes and new product lines as required.
- Reduced Lead Times: Competitive pressures,
along with the introduction of “quick ship” programs,
have forced the overall order fulfillment lead
times to be reduced. Streamlining
the
processing
of Fabricated Metal specified products, along with
improved access and utilization of business information
to drive material planning
are key requirements to reducing lead times.
- Sales Automation: The availability
of technology within the Fabricated Metal base
has put pressure on the manufacturer to provide
more effective
quoting and order entry solutions. PC and Internet
based solutions are required to maintain Fabricated
Metal loyalty, as well as protect
and expand market share.
- Technology Integration: Technology
improvements throughout the supply chain have
placed an increased demand on the availability
and access to business information. Fabricated Metals,
manufacturing equipment,
component and material suppliers are just a few examples
where business information integration is required
across multiple platforms.
Frontier is a configuration-based ERP application that
has been specifically designed to address these
and many additional challenges
facing Fabricated Metal Manufacturers. Frontier is
a fully integrated suite of application software
modules, built upon
the foundation of a table-based, dimensional Product
Configuration module. The
functionality of the product Configurator, along with
the supporting application modules, has been designed
to streamline all activities
associated with the order fulfillment process for
stock and Fabricated Metal products; from Dealer/Fabricated
Metal quotes to sales orders, production
planning and scheduling to material optimization,
product tracking to truck loading, performance
measurement to after sales service.
Over the years, Friedman Corporation has developed extensive
operational and software implementation experience
across many Fabricated Metal
industries. Friedman Corporation consultants have
documented this experience in the form of an implementation
methodology,
COMPASS,
that has been proven to be a highly effective method
of defining, executing, and tracking all aspects
of a Friedman Corporation
software implementation project. The configuration-based
functionality within
the Frontier application, along with this extensive
Industry expertise, ensures that Fabricated Metal
Manufacturers will be
successful
in achieving their business objectives within an aggressive
implementation timeline. The successful implementation
of a Friedman Corporation
software solution has provided existing Friedman Fabricated
Metal with initial and ongoing benefits to
their business,
including:
- Dramatic reductions of overall order cycle time
by integrating all operational and technical aspects
of a Fabricated Metal
Manufacturing business.
- Improved Fabricated Metal service and quotation fill
rates by providing integrated PC and Internet-based
quotation and ordering applications.
- Improved efficiencies across all aspects of the organization,
allowing Fabricated Metal Manufacturers
to support substantial growth trends with limited
increases in staffing and the associated
labor and overhead costs.
- The realization of extensive cost reductions (inventory, scrap,
procurement) by integrating all aspects of the supply chain,
from internal component production to outside material suppliers.
- Reduction of order errors and manual “special orders” that
are processed thru the introduction and leveraging of an integrated
product Configurator.
- Improved responsiveness to changing market conditions
by providing a centralized product specification
and pricing engine for
both internal Fabricated Metal service and external
Fabricated Metal use.
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