When your shop goes from using spreadsheets to an ERP system, there’s always information that needs to be transferred. However, data transfers take time and money. It’s easy to go to either extreme, wanting to transfer every piece of data over or not wanting to transfer anything. The best option is often between the two,…
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If you’ve been using the same ERP system for several years, it might be time for an upgrade. When you bought your system, it was probably on the cutting edge of shop management systems, but technology changes quickly. If you’ve had the same ERP system for several years without updating it, you have a legacy…
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You probably know that an ERP system can make your shop more efficient. However, did you know that it can also save your shop money? An ERP system can have a great impact on your bottom line by allowing you to eliminate work, work more quickly, and accurately quote and schedule. Eliminate Work Many shops…
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When you make a decision as big and important as buying an ERP system, you want to be sure everything goes right. You need support from all levels in the shop to get the right ERP system and for it to work as well as possible. This support is a big part of avoiding implementation…
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ERP systems have had a huge impact on manufacturing. Whether you have an ERP system or not, you’ve probably heard about how much they’ve changed the industry. Because of how important they are, it’s a good idea to learn about them. However, ERP systems can be fairly complex, and there’s a lot to know. Continue…
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In an ideal world, every price you quote would be accurate and your shop would always have a high profit margin. However, that sometimes isn’t the case. Quoting jobs can be difficult to do by hand, and having a quick way to look up previous, similar jobs would make it much easier. This is where…
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There is an array of articles about Millennials in the workplace. Now, another generation is coming of age. Gen Z (whose members were born between the mid-1990s and early 2000s) are the “new kids” in the workforce. Fortunately for manufacturers, there are some similarities between what Millennials and what Gen Z want in a workplace….
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You’re probably familiar with the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Goldilocks tries the bears’ oatmeal, chairs, and beds throughout her tour of their house. She’s looking for the one that’s not too big or too little, but is just right. Looking for an ERP system is kind of like that. Some systems are…
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While looking at ERP systems, you may have come across information about MRP systems. It can be hard to know which one your shop needs and even harder to find out the difference between them. The reason it’s hard to find the difference is that one is an evolution of the other. MRP and MRP…
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Wouldn’t it be great if you could spend less time on paperwork? You’ve got enough on your plate without having to create every report or email every customer. You can’t delegate this to someone on the shop floor, and your office staff is already busy. What you need is a middle manager, or software, that…
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It’s hard to run a shop when you’ve got too much work and you need to keep everything on time. It’s also hard to run a shop when you don’t have enough work and you need to figure out how to get more. In each instance, ERP software can be what makes the difference for…
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When you’re looking to buy an ERP system, there’s a lot you have to consider. You need to know what you want the software to accomplish and what improvements you want to make in your shop. You need to decide which software company to pick. You also need to decide whether you want your software…
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There is no doubt that an ERP system can do great things for a shop. Using this technology can save shops time and effort and let them run far more efficiently. However, in order for an ERP system to live up to its reputation, it has to be backed by an excellent vendor. Shoptech has…
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Just like so many other industries with faceted, multi-approach business models, the manufacturing industry has many types of players in the game. From a plant with 60 machining centers to a 7-person, custom-build job shop, each business-type faces their own challenges and require creative solutions to issues of growth, management and customer demand to name…
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In the early 1900’s, Americans changed from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles. Once they made the change, drivers saw how much easier a machine was to deal with than an animal that required rest, feeding, and clean up. Automobiles only required fuel. There is a similar revolution underway in today’s shops. In this case, the horse…
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It’s almost over. In just under three months, another year will be in the books. How has your shop fared this year? Have you met – or even exceeded – your goals? Or has it been more of the same? Have you barely met customer quality and deadline demands? Have you struggled to move product…
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You might think the only thing those two words have in common (Manufacturing & Marketing) is that they both start with the letter “M.” But you’d be wrong. The reason I know this is because of first-hand experience with how marketing your business can play a big role in growth, no matter if you’re a…
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You might think the only thing those two words have in common (Manufacturing & Marketing) is that they both start with the letter “M.” But you’d be wrong. The reason I know this is because of first-hand experience with how marketing your business can play a big role in growth, no matter if you’re a…
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Perhaps this will sound familiar to many of you. You started your shop from nothing, just you and a couple of folks to run the machines. Now your shop has gotten bigger and as your shop has grown, so have your headaches. There isn’t enough time in the day anymore to finish everything and it’s…
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If you’re like most shops, you keep yours running as efficiently as possible. However, there are some areas you could improve upon. Wouldn’t it be great if you could hire one employee to organize everything from your accounting department to the entire shop floor? This one person could instantly give you the information you need…
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With recent optimism in the manufacturing industry, you might be one of many small to mid-size businesses looking to capitalize on the upward trend happening in the marketplace. From growing your employee base to reaching out to new prospects to adding new equipment, many companies are searching for opportunities to expand and take advantage of…
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This is the final installment in our blog series about what to consider when buying an ERP system. The previous posts were ERP Benefits and Capabilities, Vetting the Software, and Vetting the Vendor. It is almost inevitable that ERP systems will offer more functions than your shop needs. It’s easy to get swept up and…
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This is the third blog post in a series about what to consider when looking for a new ERP system. The first blog post was about ERP benefits and capabilities, and the second post was about vetting the software. This post is about vetting the software vendor. When vetting a vendor, you want to check…
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This is the second installment in a series about what to consider when looking for a new ERP system. In the last post, we discussed ERP benefits and capabilities for your shop. In this post, we’ll explore some of the key points in vetting the ERP software you’re considering. The software needs to be easy…
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As technology advances in other areas of our lives, it makes more and more sense to get the benefits from technology in your shop. Some of you may already have an ERP system, but some of you may not. If you want to remain competitive, it is essential that you have the most up-to-date ERP…
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