Abstract: Chemtech Plastics Inc., an injection molding company founded in 1982, believed technology could help it obtain an edge over the competition—but the first generation software it was using had some limitations, and many of its processes were manual. By implementing an industry-specific enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, Chemtech has doubled its sales volume to more than $20 million (USD) in the last seven years.

Abstract: Chemtech, a plastics injection molder, experienced doubled sales, achieved a 99.7 percent on-time delivery rate, and generated time savings and process efficiencies after implementing DTR Plastics ERP. In fact, after running this application for seven years, they were winning new clients as a result of being able to handle more demanding orders, and provide more comprehensive documentation.

Abstract: Most of the manufacturing software vendors have planning and scheduling software which assume either infinite production capacity for calculating quantities of raw material and work in progress (WIP) requirements or infinite quantities of raw and WIP materials for calculating production capacity. There are many problems with this approach. This paper discusses the pitfalls of this approach and how to avoid these by making sure that the software you buy indeed takes into account finite quantities of required materials as well as finite capacities of work centers in your manufacturing facility.

Abstract: Without data that is reliable, accurate, and updated, organizations can’t confidently distribute that data across the enterprise, leading to bad business decisions. Faulty data also hinders the successful integration of data from a variety of data sources. But with a sound data quality methodology in place, you can integrate data while improving its quality and facilitate a master data management application—at low cost.

Abstract: Nearly half of all US companies have serious data quality issues. The problem is that most are not thinking about their business data as being valuable. But in reality data has become—in some cases—just as valuable as inventory. The solution to most organizational data challenges today is to combine a strong data quality program with a master data management (MDM) program, helping businesses leverage data as an asset.

Abstract: Primarily due to rapid development of technology in the past thirty years, the market structure throughout the world has changed considerably. Local markets have become accessible to foreign manufacturers, who are able to perform well in their newly established territories in part due to their superior application of technology. In this light, most companies, including small and medium size, have embedded globalization in their expansion strategies, consistently seeking for new markets abroad. Consequently, local manufacturing companies are facing global competition, forcing them to adopt new concepts with respect to people, process and technologies. This document describes these approaches to production planning in detail as well outlines a software solution. The software solution (Production/3) combines both pull and push techniques and enables small to medium size organizations to fully automate their production system while retaining their investment in their legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

Abstract: With a turnover of CHF 85 billion and 470 sites, Nestle is the world's largest food group. Learn how Nestle is able to plan its production and to accommodate finite capacity calculations in terms of manpower and material resources, strategic material availability, and through the significant production constraints of Nestle's different production environments.

Abstract: You can blame your sales people all you want, but if the lead data is bad, they’re not going to bring in business. You can blame your product managers for ineffective promotions, but if the target lists are redundant, the pitches fall on deaf ears. You can blame your customer service representatives for low satisfaction scores, but if customer data is missing, then no wonder the complaint resolution pipeline is backed up. Think it’s your customer resource management (CRM) system? Think again. It’s bad data, and it’s costing you millions. Request your copy of The Bottom Line on Bad Customer Data that delivers detailed advice from Jill Dyche, partner and co-founder of Baseline Consulting, about what you can do to address the impact of bad data on your company. The report gives you insight into how bad data is impacting your company and what you can do about it. How to identify where the bad data is and quantify its impact, and different approaches to determine the sources and causes of bad data are all offered in this paper.

Abstract: Enterprises understand the value of integration. One area that has been ignored is the plant. Plant systems and corporate systems must be complementary and leverage each other to provide their maximum value. Production intelligence provides both integration and valuable information which is not available in either type of system.

Abstract: Many business activities require access to real production data, but there are just as many that don’t. Data masking secures enterprise data by eliminating sensitive information, while maintaining data realism and integrity. Many Fortune 500 companies have already integrated data masking technology into their payment card industry (PCI) data security standard (DSS) and other compliance programs—and so can you.

Abstract: There is a great deal of confusion over the meaning of data warehousing. Simply defined, a data warehouse is a place for data, whereas data warehousing describes the process of defining, populating, and using a data warehouse. Creating, populating, and querying a data warehouse typically carries an extremely high price tag, but the return on investment can be substantial. Over 95% of the Fortune 1000 have a data warehouse initiative underway in some form.

Abstract: Data auditing is a form of data protection involving detailed monitoring of how stored enterprise data is accessed, and by whom. Data auditing can help companies capture activities that impact critical data assets, build a non-repudiable audit trail, and establish data forensics over time. Learn what you should look for in a data auditing solution—and use our checklist of product requirements to make the right decision.

Abstract: Rising data volume is not the only reason companies are concerned with issues of data integration and data quality. The growing numbers of disparate systems that produce and distribute data add to the complexity. But in many companies, data quality management has not kept pace with the growth of data integration projects, and its use is immature. Find out how moving toward a single data services architecture can help.

Abstract: There is no one process used when manufacturing plastic products, since manufacturing methods depend on the final product. Indeed, products range from injection molding and plastic extrusion, to extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, stretch blow molding, and thermoformed plastics.

Abstract: General enterprise resource planning (ERP) providers, even those which are viable companies with a solid product, typically do not meet the tricky requirements that are vital to the plastics industry and related so-called mill or material converter businesses.

Abstract: Diamond Plastics has a nation-wide network of PVC pipe manufacturing facilities. After years of customizing its financial software, the company was unable to upgrade to newer versions. The existing system also could no longer accommodate the company’s continued growth. Needing a new accounting and business management system, Diamond chose to implement Microsoft® Dynamics AX. Find out about the near-flawless transition.

Abstract: As a plastics molder, Dreco Inc. required an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that could manage its sizeable inventory. The original application it had purchased ten years earlier delivered a minimum of manufacturing functionality at the greatest possible expense. What did Dreco do about it? It replaced the old system with an industry-specific ERP system, and is now realizing a significant return on investment.

Abstract: Learn how Eastern Plastics, a small precision plastic machining, design, and assembly company, implemented an integrated solution and document management system to aid in its growing, international business.