Woodworking & Carpentry

Manufacturing Execution System Trakware Profiled in Automationmedia.com

In the current issue of AutomationMedia.com, leading manufacturing journalist TR Cutler profiles Hollywood Woodwork’s CFO and reveals the rationale in selecting Trakware’s MES solution. The article may be read at its entirety at http://automationmedia.com/TRCutler.asp?ID=%2041.

Trakware Systems (www.trakware.com) is the worldwide leader in manufacturing execution system (MES) solutions for engineer-to-order (ETO) and project-based manufacturers maximizing both profitability and productivity. Trakware specializes in lean business-critical functions such as estimating, advanced scheduling, job costing, production management and labor as well as material shop floor data collection. TRAKware software fully integrates with existing ERP systems, as well as major software providers for financials, engineering design, optimization, payroll and wireless interaction for mobile workers.

According Tony Parkinson, CFO of Hollywood Woodwork, in Hollywood Florida, “We were finding it harder and harder to hire experienced estimators that truly knew our industry and we were spending an inordinate amount of time developing estimators from within the company. We were concerned that much of the knowledge we had concerning the “art” of estimating was primarily in the heads of a few people who were looking to retire in the next couple of years. We wanted to find an estimating package that was geared towards the architectural woodworking industry and would help us transfer the knowledge of our senior estimators into a system that could benefit everyone. We knew if we could systemize the process at a more granular level we could better avoid “ballpark” estimates. We would have the ability to modify and provide estimates quicker and at a more detailed level – something our customers were demanding.”

Checklist of Feature for MES in the ETO Environment

• Estimating

• Advanced production scheduling

• Advanced parametric configurator / product configuration

• Change order management

• Manufacturing data collection

• Shop floor control

• Labor tracking

• Work-in-process/progress (WIP) management

• Material and inventory management

• Project execution and control / job costing

• Financials

• Mobile access (laptop, wireless handhelds, etc.)

How CFO’s in the ETO Environment Find Technology Driving Culture Shifts

Implementing the new MES system created a culture shift throughout the enterprise beyond the initial estimating functionality. While originally purchased for the Estimating Department it soon became evident that the organization needed to bring in representatives from all departments of the company in order to have a successful implementation. “As an “Enterprise” software package we have discovered that imposes coordination among departments throughout the company, it requires defined tasks, sequences, and data formats to be used by ALL people,” according to CFO Parkinson.

CFO’s top 3 reasons an ETO (engineer-to-order) manufacturer (such as Hollywood Woodworking) should consider in selecting an MES solution:

1. Properly implemented, it will allow a company to focus on reducing costs and increasing margins.

2. Enable the company to be more responsive to customers in terms making and keeping commitments, providing details, and delivering a job on time, on budget.

3. Help take a lot of data and turn it to information to make better informed decisions.

Trakware recognizes ETO manufacturing as a process and includes a wide range of industry sectors including Architectural Woodworking, Cabinets, Store Fixtures, Doors and Windows, Furniture, Oil and Gas Fabrication, Solid Surface, Metal Fabrication, Yachts-building, and Custom Electronics.

About the Author

TRAKware Systems Inc.
www.trakware.com
Randy Richel, CEO
info@trakware.com
800-370-1849

Peter L Aronin Fine Woodworking – Sarasota, FL

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