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Gorell Enterprises is exclusively in the business of manufacturing
vinyl replacement windows for residential applications.
Building windows to-order, Gorell’s success and
growth hinges upon the accuracy and expediency with
which it handles each individual order.
The nature of replacement windows yields virtually unlimited
product variability. Window dimensions, fi nish, and
color are variables facing order entry personnel hundreds
of times a day. The accurate fl ow of information through
the business, though vital for Gorell, was a continual challenge.
Until recently Gorell used an order entry system for
logging orders, another system for manufacturing, and a
third system for financials. In addition to the systems being
disjointed, they were faced with running both Unix and NT
platforms. With many hands touching the same order information,
accuracy could not be assured.
To move from disjointed systems to an integrated enterprise
system Gorell looked to satisfy some of the unique
requirements of the window business, not all of which had
been addressed by software vendors. First, Gorell needed a
dimensional confi gurator to ensure incoming orders actually
could be built, with an accurate cost associated with the
order. Second, communicating order information immediately
to the shop fl oor was required for multiple reasons
- manufacturing would gain a better grasp on customer
demand, identify opportunities to combine like orders,
and achieve the ability to provide customers with quicker
shipments and accurate promise dates. Third, an integrated
fi nancial system was mandatory to eliminate the inaccuracies
of manual journal entries.
Though several software vendors could profi ciently demonstrate
their system’s integration, few contained the required
confi guration capabilities. The factor elevating Friedman
was a robust dimensional confi gurator plus the readiness to
develop a specialized application to help optimize Gorell’s
glass cutting saws. Gorell recognized Friedman as a niche
leader committed to providing industry specifi c solutions
for window manufacturers and selected its Frontier enterprise
solution.
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