Over the years, ERP software has been changing to help fit its users’ needs. Most recently, those needs have made software that is safe, accessible, and smart. Imagine being able to hold all of the information you need to run your shop in the palm of your hand, and access it from anywhere. What if…
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Running a job shop is difficult work, and each has specific needs. However, there are four building blocks, along with a good ERP software, that can help any job shop. With accurate invoicing, a broad customer base, great customer relationships, and efficient scheduling, any job shop will have a great foundation to succeed. Accurate Invoicing…
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5S is a method for organizing workspaces and entire shops to be more efficient, effective, and safe. 5S started in Japan as part of the Toyota Production System, and it’s one tool used in lean manufacturing. However, you don’t need to implement lean manufacturing or know anything about the Toyota Production System to use 5S…
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Cost estimating software, in a nutshell, helps your machine shop send out estimates or quotes that are consistent and have the right profit margin for your shop. Being able to do this with software makes your life, and the life of your estimator, much easier. Using cost estimating software in an ERP system can help…
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Having great customer relationships is always important. Change is constant, so it’s important for your customers to know that they can count on your shop. The two steps to making strong customer relationships are communicating and building trust. Communicate Changes At the beginning of the pandemic, you probably received many emails about what various companies…
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There’s been a lot of upheaval and changes in the last few months. For some manufacturers, they have fewer employees working, but a similar amount of work to get done. Whether these employees are out on sick leave, were laid off, or any other reason, that leaves the shop owner to figure out how to…
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Depending on your location, it may be time to reopen your business. Reopening your shop probably feels like things are going back to normal. While some things will be familiar, other things in your shop will have to change. There are several principles that shop owners can apply. By keeping these things in mind, you…
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ERP software can help your shop in many ways, but only if your employees know how to use it. Training your employees is important, and there is a lot to consider. Training is a huge part of implementing new ERP software, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Learn more about what training materials to…
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Everyone is looking for answers because this pandemic is uncharted territory. Decision Makers are doing their best with the information they have, but it’s hard to come up with the best solution if you don’t know the options. There are best practices for running a shop during the pandemic, and you can apply them to…
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The days when you had to physically be in the shop to work are over. Technology has made it possible to run your shop from anywhere, save money and time, and keep it safe. There are many advances in technology that have led to this, but ERP software, on the cloud, has made huge strides…
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The way you run your shop is only as good as the information you have. If you don’t know what jobs make money for your shop, then you can’t take more jobs like them. If the numbers you’re relying on are inaccurate, you won’t be able to run your shop as well as you’d like….
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Whatever else is going on in the world, people still need to buy certain things. For example, medical supplies are in high demand. People are doing their best to keep their everyday lives running as well. That means that even if your shop makes things that aren’t in high demand, there’s probably still a need…
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ERP systems are meant to make running your shop easier. However, if you get the wrong ERP system, it can make running your shop a nightmare. Screwmatics, QT Magnetic Solutions, and Prototype Casting all had the wrong ERP systems for their shops. They switched to E2, which has proven to be the right ERP system…
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COVID-19 has caused a never-seen global response, so it’s difficult to know what your shop should do. You want to make sure your employees and customers are safe, but you also want to keep your shop open as long as you can. How do you balance these things? Below are four questions with possible solutions…
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Many people end up managing a machine shop because they started it. When they started, their shop was small. However, as their shop grew, they hired more people until they were doing more managing than they were working the machines. For others, they came into a management position more directly. No matter how you got…
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No shop wants to have scrap material. It is possible to sell or recycle scrap, but it’s better not to have it in the first place. Reducing your shop’s scraps can raise your bottom line and improve the flow of work on your shop floor. Quality Control One of the easiest ways to reduce scrap…
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With a subpar accounting program, it can be hard to tell how much money your shop is making. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if your shop is making money at all! Using the right accounting program will make it easier to protect your shop from economic trouble and raise your bottom line. Surviving the Recession…
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One of the most popular reasons to get ERP software is to have tracking software in the shop. Tracking software impacts many different areas of the shop, sometimes in unexpected ways. Good tracking software can improve estimating, deadlines, and the shop’s bottom line. Estimating A large part of estimating is the knowledge of how long…
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Every shop wants to improve productivity but making that happen can be tricky. Once productivity goes up, so does the bottom line and all sorts of other things, but getting started can be difficult. This is especially true if you’ve already tried to make your shop more productive and have run out of ideas. Below…
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A job can’t run without materials. That necessity is part of why purchasing and ordering are so important, but they can have an even bigger impact on your shop. It’s critical your shop has a program for purchasing and ordering that can keep up. Otherwise, you could be spending too much money and sending out…
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As we welcome 2020, we also take one last look back at 2019. Below are our top 10 blog posts from last year. It looks like many people wanted to make their shops more efficient, figure out scheduling, and improve their shop overall. Then again, who wouldn’t? Let’s get started with the tenth most popular…
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The best part of having an ERP system is how much it improves your shop. How it makes your shop better depends on what you need it to do and how you use it. For example, you may need an ERP system that tells you exactly where your jobs are so you can meet tight…
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We’ve all heard that technology can make our lives better, but it can be hard to know, specifically, what technology to use. There are plenty of examples of technology that can be used in a job shop. Some things, however, work better than others. Below are five examples of technology that can do wonders for…
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You probably already know how getting ISO certified can help your shop. Potential customers like to see that your shop is meticulous enough to have earned this certification, and in some cases, they require it before giving your shop work. So, it’s understandable that shop owners would like to have this certification. However, shop employees…
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Every journey starts with a single step. When you’re trying to improve your shop, it’s easier to start with small changes and goals. This is kaizen in a nutshell. Kaizen literally means “continual improvement”. When used at work, there are 5 key principles to kaizen: know your customer, let it flow, go to Gemba (or…
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