Page 26 - MetalForming April 2013

Software for Manufacturing
New Service Helps Manufacturers Plan an Implementation Program
Exact, Minneapolis, MN, has introduced its JobBoss Blue- print Implementation Service, to help ensure successful imple- mentations of JobBoss software. The service is based on standards established by the world-recognized authority on project management, the Project Management Institute.
Key elements of the implementation service include:
• Project launch, to educate staff of the benefits expect- ed with the application.
• Preparation and planning, to create a project time- line that meshes with the company calendar and min- imizes the impact on the business.
• Testing and training, to minimize issues on day one of a new application.
• Project evaluation, mutually agreed upon checkpoints and milestones.
Exact America: 800/468-0834; www.exactamerica.com
Plex Integrates Tax-Computation Functionality
Plex Systems Inc., Troy, MI, provider of Plex Online cloud ERP for manufacturers, announced the availability of an automated sales and use tax-compliance solution through its strategic partnership with Avalara. The solution will help manufacturers manage the complexity of multiple-use and sales taxes. Users opting for the func- tionality no longer will have research and verify taxes required by states, counties, cities, municipalities and other governmental entities.
“Plex Online and Avalara provide a tax-management solution that simplifies and auto- mates the computation of applicable taxes with minimal effort by our staff,” says Deb- bie Horner, controller at oxygen-regulator manufacturer Inovo. “We were manually com- puting taxes prior to the implementation of the Avalara and Plex Online solution. It has made order fulfillment much easier and improved our ability to respond to tax audits.” Plex Systems: 248/391-8001; www.plex.com
MRP System Specifically for the Fabrication Industry
SigmaTek Systems, Cincinnati, OH, a provider of CAD-CAM nesting and manufacturing business automation software, has developed SigmaMRP to meet the specific require- ments of the fabrication industry. SigmaMRP is a manufacturing-resource-planning system that manages transactions and communication with customers and suppliers, inventory of goods and raw materials, and departmental and outsourced processes.
“In addition to inventory, work order, process scheduling and progress tracking,” says product manager Keith Brown, “fabricators who cut, bend or punch are faced with a need to catalog and recall remnants for future jobs. SigmaMRP can grow along with a manufacturer’s requirements.”
SigmaMRP integrates with SolidWorks to import, unfold, nest, fabricate and man- age native SolidWorks assemblies.
SigmaTek Systems: 513/674-0005; www.sigmanest.com
Cloud-Based Operational Visibility
KeyedIn Solutions, Minneapolis, MN, has launched KeyedIn Manufacturing, a 100- percent cloud-based application to provide immediate visibility to all manufacturing processes. Available at any time on any device, it provides full integration from lead
to shipment, streamlining back-office operations and delivering immediate cost savings and production efficien- cies, say company officials.
“Those on the shop floor can see what is coming down the pipe and plan accord- ingly,” says company chief product officer Karen Adame, “while the sales team can verify with the customer when their shipment will be available, based on up-to-date knowledge of actual working schedules.”
KeyedIn Manufacturing provides a visual view of the shop floor that allows managers full visibility into the schedule and control of processes. It also inte- grates with QuickBooks and other appli- cations to provide a seamless view of financial information.
KeyedIn: 952/835-1041; www.keyedin.com
Service-Center ERP Software Supports Customized Data Use
Invera, Houston, TX, has released Stratix/CSX, an optional product that pro- vides customer-specified extensions for its Stratix metal service-center software. This new functionality provides a flexible and powerful tool that allows each cus- tomer to create customized data, process- es and documents to meet unique busi- ness requirements.
Stratix specialized ERP software han- dles all types of ferrous and nonferrous products of all forms, including coils, sheets, structural products, wire, pipe and tubing and rollformed products. A seam- less integration of native metal-industry terminology, functions and features make the software quick to deploy with mini- mum implementation costs.
The new Stratix/CSX extensions include creation of non-Stratix data elements; cre- ation of non-Stratix applications or func- tions; and customization of business doc- uments. Once the data is entered and saved, it can be viewed from related appli- cations that support the CSX button. In addition, the data can be combined with existing data to create custom reports or added to existing reports or documents. Invera: 514/935-3535; www.invera.com
24 MetalForming/April 2013
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