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News Release from: SPECIAL REPORT by the Editor | Subject: Services for subcontractors
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 01 August 2007
Subcontractor production software comes
of age
Over the past 40 years, manufacturing software has blossomed from simple machine control to encompass estimating and quoting, cost control, tooling management and more, reports QA editor, Jon Hobden.
Over the past two decades, manufacturing software has blossomed from simple machine control to sophisticated suites that encompass estimating and quoting, cost control, tooling management, gauge control and more Subcontractors can benefit from software that lowers costs, reduces time requirements, increases profit and helps to win business - but choosing the right system is critical to gain the advantages on offer
The first question to answer is whether the software on offer is written for batch or made-to-order production.
All too often, off-the-shelf standard production control solutions are sold as being compatible with bespoke manufacturing but, in practice, these solutions are often costly to implement and can cause more problems than they solve.
The business of estimating, for instance, with a contract for made-to-order items, involves different disciplines compared with full production applications.
There may also be a temptation to look at company-wide systems like MRP and ERP and, indeed, MRP can offer many benefits.
However, unless the organisation is large, covers multiple locations and can justify dedicated resources for its implementation, ERP is not a valid option.
There is a number of software systems that offer the subcontractor or - in fact - any organisation producing or assembling batches or one-offs of any description, a way to increased efficiency and resource-freeing capability.
These include DataTrack from PSL, Redant, Job Boss, Jobshop, Tricorn, Rent-IT, Match-IT and Rhombus.
These cater for batch production to different degrees so it is worth reviewing your business and its needs before speaking to any of the companies selling suitable products.
Another consideration is the vendor; is it, for example, the company that writes the software or a less experienced third party? A major factor is often the experience of the software producer.
The better ones are usually those that include both engineers and data specialists amongst the programmers and specifiers of the system.
It is vital that the software is able to cope with the unforeseen and this is far more likely if the producer has the relevant experience and background to make allowances for every eventuality.
It is also more likely that the software will work without undue intervention and downtime if the software vendor and producer is close to the market and, preferably, to each of its users.
A company that learns from its users and modifies or updates its software continually is far more likely to cope with the latest machines and the changing requirements of OEMS and those further up the supply chain.
Flexibility is the key here.
Finally, it is extremely important in an industry where managers and company owners are very close to the business that a production system does not interfere with the running of the business.
With research, it is possible to find a system that is both flexible and can grow with your requirements.
Modular production control can build with your ability to take it on, adding accounts integration, sales order progressing, tooling definitions and bills of tools, machine data collection and others to seamlessly provide the functionality your organisation needs, without overloading your workforce with training needs and the burdens of too much change too quickly.
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