Who would have thought that keeping old records would save the day? For Dan Rozwadowski at Eagle Grinding and Plating, those scanned-in records helped save a customer and get them more business. Sharing Knowledge Recently more and more Baby Boomers are retiring and they’re taking knowledge with them that was never written down. This is…
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Implementing a new ERP system is one of the most difficult parts of using a new system. One often-forgotten part of this process is moving information over from the old system into the new one. If the old system was spreadsheets or another ERP system that will let you export your information, this process should…
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As anyone who’s ever worked in a group knows, communication is key. It’s no good telling someone to use the press brake if they bend the material in the wrong place. It’s even worse if someone tells you there’s enough sheet metal for a job, but they were looking at the wrong numbers, and you…
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ERP systems make many things easier in manufacturing shops. However, there are still gaps in some software packages. For example, if a manufacturer gets a CAD file from one of their customers, it would be easiest for the manufacturer if that CAD file could update in their ERP system. However, for many ERP systems, this…
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As it gets closer to the end of the year, accounting savvy manufacturers will be thinking about how to maximize their tax deduction under Section 179. Not accounting savvy? No problem. Section 179 is essentially part of tax law that allows manufacturers to write off their purchase price for qualifying equipment and/or software that they…
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IT costs can add up quickly, but shop owners rarely sit down see how much they’re spending. It can be surprising how much everything costs when you put it all together, especially if you host your ERP software yourself. Below is a list of IT costs that accompany an ERP system if it’s hosted at…
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No one is really ready when disaster hits their shop. However, the more you can prepare before a disaster hits, the better off you’ll be if one does happen. If you have a plan in place, then you don’t have to try to figure out what to do in the middle of a disaster. You…
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Whether you’re changing a process in your shop or implementing new software, there are specific ways to address change in every kind of shop. For instance, just because some things work well for repetitive manufacturers, doesn’t mean they’ll work well for a job shop. You need strategies that work with your shop’s operations. Below are…
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There are many things you can try to make your shop succeed. However, your shop can’t succeed if your employees have to wrestle with outdated software. The software’s purpose is to assist your shop. If used effectively, it will become like a partner to your shop and help it grow. E2 has been this partner…
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When you start looking at ways to make your shop more efficient, lean manufacturing is one of the first strategies that come up. Lean manufacturing is a strategy to eliminate waste from your shop. Waste can come in the form of wasted time or resources. Job shops typically find it difficult to use lean manufacturing…
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It’s likely that you chose to work in manufacturing and run a shop because you want to. However, while you enjoy some parts of your job, there are other parts that you probably don’t enjoy. There’s a lot that goes into owning a shop and not all of it is fun. Thankfully, there are a…
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ERP systems are an integral part of a shop. However, they are less useful when you have to walk back and forth to a computer every time you want to use them. With this in mind, Shoptech has made a number of mobile apps for E2 SHOP available in the App Store or in Google…
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When you think of growing your shop, you probably think about getting more square footage. Sometimes this is the best move for your shop, and sometimes it isn’t. However, there are several ways to find growth in your shop and not all of them involve moving or building an addition. Four ways to grow your…
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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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If you are a current customer with a support question, please email shoptech-techsupport@ecisolutions.com directly.
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