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> AutomationMedia ( is a website devoted to news, articles, reviews, a QA forum and knowledgebase about Automation and Controls Engineering with an emphasis on important new technology information. Naeem Ismat is the editor of this leading technology website. Authored by leading manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, the impact of regulatory compliance is profiled in the recent feature. According to Cutler, “By the end of 2006, all food manufacturers must meet compliance with the Bioterrorism Act, including companies with fewer than 10 employees.” The bottom line is that documentation of lot traceability is not an option — it’s now the law. According to Rebecca Gill, vice president...

bottom-link"> Back in the early 1990’s, Lowry Computer Products was a growing company, competing in the fast paced data collection industry. The company was on an aggressive expansion plan, which did not allow for operational inefficiencies. In an attempt to manage its rapid growth, Lowry turned to Enterprise 21 to help streamline operations and to assist its staff in keeping up with the vastly changing world of the bar code and data collection industry. That was over ten years ago. Since then Lowry has acquired four companies and has became a leader in not just bar coding equipment and supplies, but a leader in RFID technology as well. These days, Lowry serves as both a premier data...

Framework Warehouse and Conceptual Business Framework linked to TGI’s Decision Support System According to Rebecca Gill, Vice-President with TGI Ltd., “TGI closes the loop on information delivery with Enterprise DSS. Enterprise DSS is a Decision Support System that is integrated with TGI’s Enterprise 21 ERP software package.” Enterprise DSS runs in a windows compliant graphical, client-server environment, and consists of three primary components: - A Data Warehouse, which is seamlessly integrated into the Enterprise 21 ERP software system - A Metadata (or data about data) interface which acts as the link from the warehouse and the conceptual business framework to the DSS application...

iv> Outgrowing their existing in house computer system, Therma-Tru Doors turned to Technology Group International to revitalize the company’s technology platform. Within a year, Therma-Tru implemented Enterprise 21’s ERP software suite at its various locations throughout the United States and Mexico. Therma-Tru quickly obtained their return on investment by reducing costs through: - Tighter data management - Decreased WIP inventory - Increased manufacturing output - Increased warehouse output - Decreased invoice errors Serving a robust and diverse distributor network requires not only a high quality product, it requires a complex manufacturing environment and sophisticated supply chain...

Toledo Ohio based Technology Group International (TGI), a leading ERP software solution provider, announced that Hebert Confections, LLC has selected Enterprise 21 ERP software as the replacement package for its existing legacy system. Originally founded by Fredrick Hebert over eighty years ago, the New England based company has a long standing tradition of manufacturing traditional boxed chocolates, gourmet candies, chocolate bars, fudge and other confections. The company is now owned and operated by Longmeadow Capital, who distributes the fine Hebert product line through grocery, mass merchant trade, and through its own direct-store-delivery network and retail store. When arriving at Hebert...

I got training in SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system years ago when it was on a mainframe platform - version R/2. At that time the Germans who came to the US to teach, emphasized that the name was S-A-P. They were aware of the negative connotations of the word sap in the United States. The Players The letters S, A, P stand for some German words. At this point, knowing what those letters mean, is as irrelevant as knowing what IBM stands for. (By the way, I just learned that SAP was started by former IBMers). SAP was founded in Germany in 1972. It had become greatly successful and respected in the European market before it made any serious inroads in North America. Oracle Corporation, a US...

According to manufacturing journalist Thomas R. Cutler in the current issue of Manufacturing.net, “Software systems must still address manufacturing functionality and should contain functions such as: advanced planning, constraint management and capacity analysis; Just-in-Time manufacturing; feature-based assembly and mixed-mode manufacturing; machine downtime tracking; multi-level bill of materials and routings; engineering levels and approvals; RF-enabled production recording and put away; and lean manufacturing, material flow and production. For those manufacturers who are not heavily outsourcing the production functions, the ability for software solutions to address lean initiatives is vital...

When choosing software for a particular aspect of your business, be it CRM, Shop Floor Management, Quality Control, Point of Sale, WMS or anything else, the choice between selecting a specific package to address your needs (Best of Breed), or selecting an overall system that will serve your business as a whole is not one that should be taken lightly. If you do not already have an ERP system in place, you might want to consider looking for a system that covers both the specific functionality you are looking for, as well as being a fully functional company wide solution. For companies that already have an ERP system, try to find out if your vendor offers a WMS option, and even if it doesn't include...

The last time that you were shopping at your local large chain variety store, did you ever stop to think how they do it? How they keep everything stocked and keep everything flowing smoothly. Remember the time you asked for something that was out and was told that they don't keep it stored in back? As product comes in it is placed directly on the shelf in many instances. Perfect Timing Now that's timing! The truth, is that stores like these are now relying more and more on supply chain service software instead of actual hands on human management. This is why you will find that today stores that don't stock products in back, just don't run out in front like they used to. Tracking and Synchronizing...

E-Commerce is commonly known as Electronic Marketing or E-marketing. It's a system of buying and selling items through electronic media, here, electronic media is referred to Internet and other electronic media. Latest survey reports show that the use of electronic trading is continuously growing day after day. Thousands of web portals and applications have been hosted since last two decades. Records of late 70s shows that the use of electronic media was basically used for special purpose only such as electronic fund transfer, electronic data interchange. Later on its application usage took a diverse turn when credit card and automated teller came in the market. Maximum users and usage of this type...

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software product from Microsoft. It provides extra benefit by assimilating business-intelligence features to increase our return on investment. Microsoft Dynamics NAV is definitely an ideal business model for every growing company. Featured with its distinctive, customized and economical solutions, this product comes in two versions: Advance Management (AM) and Business Ready Licensing (BRL). Business is all about making effective decisions, and Microsoft Dynamics is a perfect tool of flexible business management solutions that further enables you to formulate important business decisions with greater self-confidence. Moreover...

Introduction Over the past 10 years a great number of businesses ranging from SME’s to Blue Chips have been rolling out or updating their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP) and Advanced Supply Chain Planning solutions (APS). There are a variety of reasons for this intense activity, ranging from the need to consolidate IT following an acquisition, through to the desire to improve the IT capability in order to implement a particular supply chain strategy. The 10 key elements for a Best Practice Supply chain 1. Have a clearly understood and agreed service level agreement (SLA) with your customers The SLA should be a detailed understanding of the service to be...

The limelight of ecommerce has fast focused on wholesale dropshipping businesses. While it gains popularity for saving a lot of small businesses from bankruptcy, it continues to have even successful sellers trying this genius of a business strategy. However, the key to making it work for your business is first familiarizing how it works and how you can maximize it for your own online business. If you are a newbie, pretty much as I have been to online business, then this may be the perfect timing to take your profit to a higher level of potential. I first started finding out more about the industry and how I can take advantage of the opportunities that come with wholesale dropshipping. Wholesale...

Collaborative B2B e-commerce or c-commerce as it is more popularly known refers to the process of companies sharing their intellectual capital as well as their core competencies using the Internet and B2B exchanges. Businesses are linked to their partners using extensive, complicated and expensive infrastructure that enables them to interact with each other, sharing data and working together to in a reliable and secure B2B exchange. B2B exchanges can be public or private; businesses prefer private exchanges, as they are considered more secure, reliable and where they can control the infrastructure. Public exchanges are relatively cheaper; offer the chance of recruiting new customers but these...

"body"> Within the last few years RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) has steadily migrated from the inner circles of science and technology into the public consciousness. RFID is now well-integrated into the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the car you drive... even what’s in your medicine cabinet. What is it? RFID refers to a network of microchip transponders, readers and system software that enables the mainstream exchange of more — and more specific — data than ever before. Each RFID transponder, commonly called a tag, is embedded with an integrated circuit (IC) and an antenna. The IC is encrypted with a unique electronic product code (EPC) that is the equivalent of an...

A comprehensive resource and reference guide, for corporate and business endeavors is the recently released publication by KPMG. It offers broad and bread-necessary guidance to executives on how to compete effectively and competitively in the global marketplace. Globalization is changing traditional business practice and the operating principles, contexts, business management strategies we choose and follow to thrive in the modern economics. What does it take to win in the new global arena? What characteristics will define the survivors? How will they lead the next wave of global competition? It presents business strategies that have been successful in...

A SWOT analysis is a well established and particularly useful approach for helping decision makers determine if their strategic business objectives are achievable. It is normally conducted during strategic planning and, as the name implies, it is used to quickly identify a company's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. A SWOT analysis is essential because subsequent steps in the planning process are derived from SWOT. To set the stage for showing how a SWOT diagram is useful in improving business processes, one must first understand how it is typically used to support a SWOT analysis during strategic planning. A SWOT diagram is a rectangular diagram, divided into four quadrants, used...

Data Processing has changed greatly over time. While one can track the beginnings of the modern analytical computer to Charles Babbage (1791-1871), we really saw the beginning of modern day information systems during World War II when they were used as code busters. After the war, few anticipated how much computers would affect our lives. Early on even IBM thought that there would only be a handful of companies that would need a computer. In those days, computers were massive systems based on vacuum tubes and core memory. With the advent of the integrated circuit, computer architectures took a giant leap forward. The mainframe systems of the late 1980's evolved into Client/Server applications of the...

A tier one automotive client realized $1 million dollars in inventory savings in the first three months on a single cell with a single supply through Datacraft Solution’s Signum solution. “Signum allows companies to implement a powerful and accessible framework to reduce inventory levels, increase productivity, and continually improve process flow, all while staying true to the principles of lean manufacturing,” said Datacraft Solutions’ CEO Stephen Parker. Signum is the only Demand Driven Supply Chain automated solution delivered securely over the internet. There are no elaborate, complex, or expensive software solutions to maintain or install, rather a system that allows firms to work...

By using relevant aerospace KPI in performance evaluation, companies that belong to the aerospace industry will be able to assess employee performance and the value of their output efficiently. The term "aerospace" typically refers to the atmosphere that surrounds the Earth as well as the surrounding space. Consequently, all companies whose end products are tools, technologies, or vehicles that allow movement through air and space are said to belong to the aerospace industry. This industry is characterized as a diverse field that involves not only commercial and industrial applications, but military applications as well. Industry participants may be involved in researches, operations, manufacture...

Efficient production output in a company is dependent on a number of factors. One of the most important factors that help businesses achieve business goals successfully is proper logistics management. In general, logistics refers to the movement of materials from point to point. But, as far as project management is concerned, there is much more to logistics than the seamless movement of goods. In large and complex projects, logistics could also include location of the facility, proper planning and forecasting, transportation route management, inventory management, warehousing, packaging, insurance, coordination and maintaining the flow of the transportation of goods. Logistics for project management...

Logistics engineering mainly deals with the application of engineering methods to solve logistics problems. Logistics is the science of planning, organizing, and executing activities for delivering the required goods or services to the right location at the right time. Logistics engineering supports every stage of an activity to satisfy customer requirements. Modern technologies, communication links, and control systems are essential to manage materials, services, and financial goals. Logistics engineering help to improvise new materials to suit the situation for a cost effective performance. Strategy management, research methodology, industrial engineering, supply chain management, quality...

term “outsourcing” has been heavily used over the past few years, but oftentimes the meaning of this process wrongfully understood. If we were to give it a dictionary definition, outsourcing would be the process of an organization or individual transferring the ownership of a business process to a supplier (which in turn can be an organization or individual). Some would argue that this is a simple business relationship, but with outsourcing there’s a catch. The difference between a simple business relationship and outsourcing is the way the control over the business process is handled and transferred. In the first case, the buyer retains full control over the entire process and simply tells...

RFID Radio-frequency identification or RFID is new data-collection technology. This technology uses electronic tags to store identification data. A wireless transmitter sends the data to a management system for analysis. Companies are using it to different functions. The main uses of this technology for the companies are in the field of supply chain management. It is used by companies across sectors. Retailers and their suppliers are using this technology mostly. RFID is becoming a unique tool in the business process. It is a very powerful and important system. Most of the companies today adopting RFID to their business. They are not using this technology to their business only, but adopting at...

In many high-performance picking operations how the cartons or totes get to the pick areas can be just as important as the pick process itself. LP Convey can help streamline that process. LP Convey makes use of data within the Lightning Pick database to understand the container routing requirements. The system integrates with conveyor control programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and the conveyor mounted bar code readers over Ethernet network to identify and divert containers into required pick areas. The unique decision point configuration approach relieves the PLC of data handling tasks associated with most bar code based applications and results in a system that is easily modified and maintained...

An asset tracking service typically provides consultation on the hardware and software that will be required to effectively manage any company's assets. Rarely are one-size-fits all solutions the best option for a business of any size, as these programs may be resistant to full integration into existing systems and policies. With the help of a consultant who will look at the manner in which capital assets are currently being managed, new systems that require little training or changes to proven supply chain processes can be designed. This will ensure that logistics professionals are getting exactly the features that they need without unwieldy extras that can lead to errors and inefficiencies. It...

Warehousing industry and supply chain management has provided a great number of job opportunities for people belonging to different natures and levels of work. Take for example the Los Angeles supply chain industry where a Public warehouse is a source of regular income for countless people. The jobs offered due to these industries are not just at managerial level but also on the operational level. One reason behind these countless jobs offered by the industry is that it involves a number of processes and services such as pick and pack, and logistics. Let us again take the example of fulfillment services, which involve product inquiry, sales quote, invoicing, shipping, delivery and many other...

Once you start using a common sense approach of integrating enterprise risk management (ERM) throughout your business, you will be pleased to find areas where you can either reduce costs from reducing waste or inefficiency or increasing the likelihood that future revenues will occur from customers or products. One example of this can be through applying ERM or the related version of operations risk management (ORM) into your supply chain process. Let me explain in more detail. Supply chains have always been important but in this age of outsourcing, they are even more important. Some leaders even consider them to be strategic assets even to point of advocating that an enterprise is only as healthy as...

Technology adoption in retail and its benefits to SMEs & LS Retail Suite a probable solution The Retail Market is in a state of explosive growth. One needs to see the mushrooming of malls and shopping complexes in the metros and small towns in India to grasp the enormity of this growth. For many years the retail industry in India has been disorganized and consisted mostly of single- store outlets, a few retail chains and a large number of the friendly-neighborhood "Kirana" shops. These outlets had pre-historic supply chains, inefficient inventory management, very few were customer focused and most were in the small to medium category. The sudden spurt in demand and a greater awareness amongst...

Of all the factors that influence a customer's desire to remain loyal to a manufacturer or job shop, the greatest of all is, perhaps, consistent on-time delivery of their orders. Throughout the supply chain, on-time delivery is vital to the continuation of the manufacturing effort--should one domino in the system go down, the rest are sure to follow in suit. However, today it is not enough to merely know you are on-time, but it is also important to know just how much you are on-time. Indeed, supplier performance has never been more crucial to manufacturing success than it is today. Factors such as outside processing, sourcing from suppliers in low-cost countries, extended supply chains due to...