 |
 |
|
Return on Investment
Software Hardware |
Full-Service Manufacturer Drives Quality, Innovation with Single-Source ERP Innovation Driven Manufacturing When it comes to thinking “out-of the box”, innovation has a home at Wisconsin Plastics, Inc. (WPI). From concept and design to distribution, WPI stands apart from its competition by delivering quality services with reliable precision. With five locations throughout the Green Bay, Wisconsin area, WPI provides prototyping, injection molding, metal stamping, powdercoat painting, assembly, heavy steel fabrication, warehousing and distribution. WPI’s full-service approach has allowed the company to grow to four divisions with more than 200 employees and over $25 million in sales annually. Managing such a fast-paced, diverse manufacturing environment requires strategic control and visibility across WPI’s entire supply chain. However, in the past, WPI’s enterprise system failed to meet demand of the company’s four divisions – Modern Plastics which handles injection molding and final assembly; Modern Stamping and Painting for thin gauge metal stamping and custom fabrication; Modern Design and Development which brings raw ideas through concept to prototype; and Valley Plating and Fabrication for heavy metal products – all of which had similar accounting procedures, but varied operations, inventory and supply needs. Slow and cumbersome, WPI’s ERP system lacked the functionality the company required to win ISO 9001:2000 certification and grow its business to serve a broader range of customers. WPI sought a comprehensive solution that could manage future growth as well as meet its day-today needs, including single-system tracking to inform all departments of key activities and superior quality control to maintain rigorous standards. The new system also needed to be cost-effective, easy to maintain, accessible, and easy-to-use for everyone—from the shop floor to the board room and every step in between. Immediate Results from a Single-Source Solution In 2001, WPI found IQMS, makers of the EnterpriseIQ system,
to be the ideal fit. IQMS offers a comprehensive, single-source ERP software
solution that delivers extensive management functionality previously available
to WPI only through multiple vendor solutions. EnterpriseIQ IQMS provided WPI with an integrated ERP package that supported the company’s design and development, production, accounting and customer service needs. After a brief training and hand-in-hand work with an IQMS implementation team, WPI saw immediate results. “We wanted to move all divisions to one computer system,” said Marty Christensen, Director of Information Services at WPI. EnterpriseIQ did that with an easy-to-use interface and interdependent activities that make tracking a one-click move. We’ve seen vast improvements in several departments.” Now, instead of using both the computer and manual files to pay vendors, WPI’s accounts payable department can view purchase orders, track receiving data, check invoices and print checks – all on the same screen. Customer service representatives have access to plant floor operations and can review job status in real-time. Being able to immediately respond across its supply chain saves WPI time and money, enhancing customer and vendor relations. EnterpriseIQ’s inventory management functionality gives WPI impressive accuracy, and has allowed the company to make substantial inventory management improvements as well as implement corrections before problems occur. To reduce inaccuracies and save valuable time, WPI made use of EnterpriseIQ’s cycle counting features, eliminating the company’s previous paper-based tracking system. Better Management Through Enhanced Communication EnterpriseIQ has also helped WPI better manage its quality standards. In March 2007 two WPI divisions – Modern Plastics and Modern Stamping and Painting – received ISO 9001:2000 certification. With EnterpriseIQ in place, WPI was able to take a systematic approach to meeting stringent ISO standards. The Quality Management System embedded in EnterpriseIQ increases WPI’s visibility and improves the company’s reaction time by pushing data to those who need it, all while using secure electronic signatures and approvals. EnterpriseIQ also automatically evaluates WPI’s workflow status and sends email notifications to both internal and external team members as needed to maintain the highest quality standards. “EnterpriseIQ was invaluable in our recent ISO registration,”
said John Senter, Quality Manager at WPI. “The manner in which EnterpriseIQ
enabled us to inform each effected area of changes Christensen agrees. “During the past several months, we’ve expanded EnterpriseIQ to manage all design and development projects as well as implement a preventative maintenance program,” he says. EnterpriseIQ is intelligent innovation that delivers significant results for WPI. We just keep asking ourselves why we didn’t implement this system sooner.” |
