Manufacturing Software

[Redarress]

Can anyone give me a vote for a good manufacturing software suit.
Looked at Sage200 with manufacturing module at the moment as we already use Sage 50 for our accounts. It comprehensive but I think everything is a little cumbersome. Have also looked at Jobshop by Planit and Factorymaster a few years ago. Also looked at Tricorn. We are a engineering company with a in-house aluminium foundry and 15 various CNC Lathes/Milling centres,subcontract heat treatment/powdercoating/wetspray out, and general assembly. The software that I wrote using Dataease runs from Quote to Invoice is creaking under the volume of work we have and I just do not have the time to rewrite it on SQL platform myself or a great deal of budget.
I would also like to incorperate planning our factory using Preactor 300 as I have a copy of it

Any thoughts to steer on the right path would be a help

Cheers
Sam

[porka_boy]

You might try Siemens Simatic IT.

[Redarress]

Thanks Porka I'll take a look at it

[Audicab]

Hi Sam, Pinnula provide manufacturing software that a number of companies I know use and speak highy of. www.pinnula.co.uk

[TurricanII]

I used to work at Redthorn (www.redthorn.com) albeit 8 years ago installing their buget ERP system all over the UK. It was written by the then company MD, a former machine shop owner, and the customers loved it. It sounds right up your street although I never actually used the software to a great extent. It links into Preactor and does all the good stuff like shop floor touch screens, cost centres, capacity planning, etc. etc.

[pugwash4x4]

don't use Visual by Infor- its unadultered ste.

wish we'd spent the money on SAP or something that actually works

[jon-]

IF you've money so spend, Damguaard Axapta, which is now Microsoft Dynamics Ax was originally written for manufacturing, though Microsoft have made it a little more retail bias.

It's still a damn fine bit of software if the budget will stretch.

[Man-At-Arms]

Redarress said:

The software that I wrote using Dataease

you're not using MetFin are you ?
:shudder:

time to move into Ffenics !

ETA:- the bloke that wrote DE now owns the source code

Edited by Man-At-Arms on Monday 13th September 13:48

[Carsie]

I regularly get involved in implementing ERP and job costing systems,there are so many variable that it's a little hard to recommend without having an understanding of the key drivers to the business.

I'd be delighted to work alongside you; its what I do! You got mail

[bga]

Carsie said:

I regularly get involved in implementing ERP and job costing systems,there are so many variable that it's a little hard to recommend without having an understanding of the key drivers to the business.

Very true.

I know clients who have ditched SAP for both Infor and Simatic. One of my current clients is running all 3 to cover all their requirements.

[tvrolet]

jon- said:

IF you've money so spend, Damguaard Axapta, which is now Microsoft Dynamics Ax was originally written for manufacturing, though Microsoft have made it a little more retail bias.

It's still a damn fine bit of software if the budget will stretch.

Not strictly correct, but the right recommendation

Dynamics AX’s manufacturing capabilities continue to be developed, as does the additional functionality across the board in breadth and depth. It still remains an ERP solution with a stong manufacturing focus. However it is probably the youngest of the major ERP solutions in the market and consequently doesn’t have the breadth of specific industry solutions yet as some of the more 'mature' products. Microsoft has therefore acquired a number of originally third-party solutions, such as ‘Process Manufacturing’ from Fullscope in the US, and these have been rolled-in to the core product as options. Retail is just the latest of these acquisitions – they have ‘simply’ acquired and integrated the ‘LS Retail’ product from Lansteiner. This hasn’t steered Dynamics AX towards retail, it has just broadened the scope of the complete product.

Now for the serious bit: assuming you have a requirement that functionally is met by Dynamics AX; you have a reasonable number of users (clearly it can work with 1 user, but in reality implementations are typically 20+ through 500 or more) and you have the budget (even on a 20 user system you’ll be into 6 figures for an implementation) then it would be criminal to leave Dynamics AX off any selection list.

Part of the consideration has to be the security of any investment you make in IT and how future-proofed the solution is. Microsoft want to dominate the ERP space, and given their success in operating systems, desktop solutions, office solutions and databases who would doubt this is possible. Many of the smaller providers have simply gone or have been acquired, and Microsoft are investing $2.8Bn (not million, billion!) in the Dynamics product line over the next 3 years. In the old days the mantra was ‘no-one got fired for buying IBM’ – we’re finding it’s rapidly becoming ‘no-one gets fired for buying Microsoft Dynamics’.

No often I get the chance to evangelise about Dynamics AX on PH. Our business is a Microsoft Gold Partner for Dynamics AX – through choice, since we believe it’s the best product in the market with the strongest future. PM me if you want any more info.

[Redarress]

Man-At-Arms said:

Redarress said:

The software that I wrote using Dataease

you're not using MetFin are you ?
:shudder:

time to move into Ffenics !

ETA:- the bloke that wrote DE now owns the source code

Edited by Man-At-Arms on Monday 13th September 13:48

Pete and Trena and others have written Ffenics. Metfin was I think written using Dataease for the Plating and painting/powdercoating industry

[Redarress]

[quote=jon-]IF you've money so spend, Damguaard Axapta, which is now Microsoft Dynamics Ax was originally written for manufacturing, though Microsoft have made it a little more retail bias.

It's still a damn fine bit of software if the budget will stretch.[/quote

Jon I think Dynamics Ax may be a little rich for me

[pugwash4x4]

If anyone has specific experience of using Visual by infor then please get in touch- we are looking at creating a re-implementation at a new site and are looking for experienced people.

Alternatively if anyone can offer a good enough reason to scrap visual and use something that actually works and NOT cost a fortune in to the bargain then I'd like to hear from you personally.

[Man-At-Arms]

Redarress said:

Man-At-Arms said:

Redarress said:

The software that I wrote using Dataease

you're not using MetFin are you ?
:shudder:

time to move into Ffenics !

ETA:- the bloke that wrote DE now owns the source code

Edited by Man-At-Arms on Monday 13th September 13:48

Pete and Trena and others have written Ffenics. Metfin was I think written using Dataease for the Plating and painting/powdercoating industry

i saw Pete a few months ago, he's busy writing the next version release
we started on DfW5.14, then DfW6.52, and then moved to Ff (now ver. 1.51)
i've been developing it for our manufacturing process for a few years now. i think the possibilities of this software just keeps growing
i could go into details forever, but don't want to bore everyone, PM me if you want to know more

[Dick Dastardly]

I have no idea about manufacturing software, but these guys are based in my building and their clients give them rave reviews: http://www.inventory2invoice.com/

[sparkyb999]

TRICORN!!!

All the way!!. Its an awsome system, I have been a user for 8 years with the added bolts ons.

It looks very professional and isnt complicated and does exactly what you need it to do.

We have 18 CNC machines running through it (milling/turning) and I am yet to fault it, the customer service is incredible when on the maintance package!.

If you want a demo or want to chat about it, give me a call, I am very bias towards their system, and can trust it 100%

Definalty worth looking at it, speak to Colin. (Tell him Mark sent you, and he may even do a deal!! ;-)

[Redarress]

Sparkie

Can you set up a BOM which is exploded by the requirement created by Sales orders ?
Does it have MRP ?
Can the software allow you you set up different machines for the same operation ie I have slow Cincinatti Arrow and a Haas Superspeed both do the same job but the Haas is much quicker can you choose which machine to put the job on ?

Thanks

Sam

[Pinnula]

Hi Sam, noticed someone mentioned Pinnula as good software to use. Reading your posts I agree, however working for Pinnula might make we a little biased. You look like you need a good solid ERP solution with an Advanced Scheduler that doesn't cost the earth. I am sure we could help you there. Where are you based in the UK, I could perhaps give you the contact details of a similar company to yours who use it?

[sparkyb999]

Hi Sam,

I forwarded on your questions to Colin, and he has comeback with these replies:

To answer the questions:

1. Yes, we have a BOM that can be exploded – and we’re working on a much slicker version!
2. We have a MRP report that looks at open works orders and identifies: a) what’s already in stock, what’s currently on order but not delivered and what therefore needs to be ordered. We can do this for materials, components and finished goods.
3. We allow the setting of machines for a build by using the “Method” field. Method “1” could use the Haas and Method “2” could use the Cincinatti.


Again, I cant recomend this software enough, as I am a user for 8 years, It really it the easiest/best software for our enviroment that i have trialed/tested

If you want to speak about it let me know.

Cheers

Mark