Mid-State Lumber Improves Real-time Data With DMSi

Mid-State Lumber is a family-owned business in Branchburg, NJ that has grown significantly since its founding in 1976, adding multiple locations and expanding into new territories.

DMSi's Agility has proven to be a good fit for Mid-State Lumber. The industry-specific functionality is an asset for the company. “I have worked in every department in the company, and I find that Agility is helpful in every area,” said Maria Hall, Mid-State Lumber’s primary system manager. “Anything that you want to do from quoting, to automated processing, to reporting, to viewers…you name it. Agility does it all. I love the system.”

Agility allows Mid-State Lumber’s departments to coordinate effectively. Because Agility provides real-time data, everyone sees current information. There’s no need for departments to update each other over the phone or email. Real-time data makes it easier for the Mid-State Lumber team to provide excellent service. Employees in every area of operation know information in Agility is current and accurate. There’s no need to double-check that a product is available before placing an order or scheduling a delivery.

Agility also allows Mid-State Lumber to be extremely responsive to customers’ needs. Credit manager Anita Toupin appreciates that results are instant: “I love the way it’s real-time. As soon as a guy enters an order, I have receivables change. If a customer is past due and on credit hold, as soon as we get checks and apply them, it frees up their account.” Agility has also helped Anita reduce the paper trail common in many offices. Agility’s reports and queries pull up all the data she needs in one screen. For instance, she can run a report to find all invoices past due by a certain number of days. Or she can use the A/R Credit Details screen to view an account’s credit information across all branches.

The DMSi team has worked closely with Mid-State Lumber and developed solid relationships with their counterparts. As a veteran employee of a service-based company, Anita is keenly aware of the impact those relationships can have: “DMSi is like a family. It really is. They treat their customers the same way, and that’s a really positive thing.”

Learn more at the DMSi newsroom. 

New Software Research Guides Available
Finding that you cannot keep up with all the changes in the latest software? Want to know how the software's features and functions can assist you? Please contact sjay@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.

For 2019 Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guide:

http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2019_Distribution_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2019Guide

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services at http://www.software4distributors.com and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard, visit http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx.

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements at http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Mid_Year_Supplement_Blog.pdf?utm_source=DownloadPDF&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018Supp.

Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, these 12 page Supplement Guides provide valuable, independently researched information. Each Guide details software company information, identifies vertical markets, highlights functions and technology features, new developments to the software package, shows graphs of the user range, basic entry price point, sales channel (how and where the software is sold), along with company contact information. The Supplement Guides provide everything you need to know when beginning your software selection and evaluation process.

 
Follow Us on Twitter

Polyclinic Reduces Costs, Maintains Optimal Inventory Levels With Tribridge

The Polyclinic had a manual materials management process, and managing and minimizing supply chain costs was paramount. Access to the right supplies when and where they were needed was challenging, but essential to providing safe, high-quality healthcare. “We trusted the staff to order supplies based on perception versus actuality, and it was never precise,” explains Jeff Wall, Materials Manager at The Polyclinic. “Add to that seasonal illnesses such as cold or flu, and we would run out of supplies. It led to hoarding in some of the clinics, which meant we were overstocked for some materials.”


Leadership at The Polyclinic knew they had to make a change and improve medical supply replenishment. Additionally, The Polyclinic wanted to:
• Reduce involvement of clinical staff in logistical activities such as reordering, unpacking, and storing supplies to increase available time with patients
• Reduce stock-outs, the fear of which led clinical staff to hoard supplies, forage for supplies from other procedure rooms, and reorder in excessive quantities
• Reduce inventory levels to decrease costs, decrease likelihood of expired supplies, and reduce storage space requirements
• Rationalize the number of SKUs maintained by each practice to avoid tracking very infrequently used or obsolete supplies


Tribridge assisted The Polyclinic in deploying an innovative, lean manufacturing process commonly used outside the healthcare industry for its materials management.


Results: The Polyclinic streamlined its supply chain and reduced inventory turns, carrying cost, and waste from expired materials. By achieving a 99% fill-rate at the onset, end user confidence in the new replenishment approach was high from the start. “We have experienced savings on the clinical side of our business, and the new materials management system has improved morale in general,” says Wall.


Through the use of Tribridge’s Materials Management solution, “The Polyclinic was able to roll out a flexible medical supply chain that keeps inventory low while providing the right product at the right time in the right amount,” says Wall. “It’s a risk to operate in such a lean manner, but even if we run out of something, we now have meaningful data to review, determine why, and fix the problem.”


To learn more, visit the Tribridge Newsroom.




New Software Research Guides Available

Finding that you cannot keep up with all the changes in the latest software?
Want to know how the software's features and functions can assist you?
Please contact snelson@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.

For 2017 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Distribution_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017DSG 

For 2017 Manufacturing Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2017MFG 

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services<http://www.software4distributors.com/> and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard<http://www.software4distributors.com/compare/default.aspx>.

 

Also, read our 2017 Mid-Year Supplements. http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2017_Mid_Year_Supplement.pdf. 

Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, these 12 page Supplement Guides provide valuable, independently researched information. Each Guide details software company information, identifies vertical markets, highlights functions and technology features, new developments to the software package, shows graphs of the user range, basic entry price point, sales channel (how and where the software is sold), along with company contact information. The Supplement Guides provide everything you need to know when beginning your software selection and evaluation process.

Visit our website to learn more about the Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard.

Supply Chain

Is the Supply Chain a viable method for moving products in the twenty first century? It was developed so long ago, I am not sure anyone can pin point the exact beginning. The chain represents a linear process that moves raw materials and resources from extraction through a manufacturing capability through logistics and warehouses to an end user.

The traditional supply chain is like an old fashioned audio or video tape. You have to start at the beginning and move to the end in a linear fashion. There are no short cuts, although you can sometimes speed up the process.

Then we went from tape to discs to CDs and DVDs and MP3 players. Now you can get to any point of the recording at anytime. Why can’t we figure out how to do the same with our supply process?

One reason is that it scares many people in the industry. The word “disintermediation” jumps to mind. What if we could go around distribution? Could it be eliminated? Can we buy direct?

Of course the answer is yes. In some industries, where distribution added no value other than sending an invoice, it has been eliminated. The new world will no longer tolerate actions that add cost but not value.

Distributors that expect to survive will need to have a value proposition that can be justified by the customer. It may be supporting a “Just In Time” operation by keeping stock close at hand and delivering it as needed. Some users will pay for a middle man who will purchase product in manufacturer’s quantities, but repack and ship in smaller user quantities. For some customers, the value will be engineering and support. There may be components of training and safety education. Rental, repair and support are other value added capabilities.

In each case, it is important to know how to measure (quantify) the value so it can be justified. Be prepared to break down what you do into measurable functions. It is the only way to survive in a random access world. Then you can run your business to deliver value for a fair price. It is the way of the future.