Wagner Machine Co. Grows Business With ECi's M1

Wagner Machine Company in Champaign, Illinois, was founded in 1982 as a precision machine shop. Today, Wagner operates out of a 30,000 square foot plant that houses more than 20 CNC mills and 20 CNC lathes. Over the past 30-plus years, it has seen steady growth, but sometimes, growth can also bring problems. As the company grew, management found the largely home-grown systems that were being used to run the business simply unable to keep up.


“Before we brought in ECi's M1, we were using six different software programs to run the company,” Wagner recalls. “None of them actually spoke to each other and one of our key programs was crashing frequently because the database could not handle the volume and complexity of the business we were processing.”


Fast forward to today—with the company now using M1 to steer the ship—and those six different programs have been replaced by a single system that seamlessly integrates all the company’s critical management and data functions, providing the kind of efficiency and productivity the Wagner team needs to maintain its solid growth pattern.


Wagner points to several features that made M1 the right choice for the company. “I really like the way M1 gives you the ability to have multiple modules open at the same time,” she says. “Switching back and forth from Estimating and Quoting to Purchasing, for example, is seamless with M1. You don’t need to close out one window before switching to another and you certainly don’t need to open up a second instance of the program and use up a second license,” she points out.


M1’s ability to provide quick and easy access to critical business information also earns high marks. “M1’s search functionality is incredibly robust,” says Wagner. “I can modify M1’s search grids however I want and then save my preferences in the system so they’re there when I need them again—that’s a huge plus for just about any aspect of our operations.”


But even with all that growth, the basic philosophy the Wagners put in place continues to drive the company, due, in no small part, to the power and flexibility M1 has provided. That’s good news by any measure. And what’s even better is that regardless of where future growth may take the company, M1 will be more than able to help keep it healthy and profitable.


To learn more, visit the ECi 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 2018 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Distribution_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018DSG


For 2018 Manufacturing Software Guide:
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018MFG


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

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 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

Distek Gains Increased Access To Business Data With ECi's M1

The management team at North Brunswick, New Jersey-based Distek, Inc., a manufacturer of pharmaceutical testing instruments and provider of testing validation and qualification services, realized that their existing systems and infrastructure weren't good enough to take the business to the next level. A new manufacturing ERP software was needed to support growth.


Information that should be flowing uninterruptedly and in real time throughout the organization took hours or even days to generate and even longer to communicate. “We were running the business on QuickBooks and several different Access databases,” remembers Business Systems and Production Manager Pierre Parks. “I was copying and pasting information into a ton of different reports, and double, triple, and even quadruple entry of the same data was standard operating procedure. And even after all that, there were some key aspects of the business where we still had very little visibility.”


“We probably looked at close to 10 different ERP systems before making a final decision,” recalls Gail Rayner, ERP Project Manager, Accounting and HR Manager. “We took our due diligence very seriously because we knew what was at stake for the company and its future.” Finally, at the end of an exhaustive process that played out over a six-month period, Distek chose the M1 manufacturing ERP system from ECi Software Solutions.


“We selected M1 mainly because it gave us the most bang for the buck but it also seemed more user-friendly than the other systems we looked at and more easy to customize,” explains Parks. “And with M1, we would be able to take our different silos of information and bring them all under one roof. That was a key objective.”


“M1 provided a useful implementation checklist but we also had our own project plan and a project charter that set specific return-on-investment goals that we wanted to achieve,” explains Rayner. Those goals covered virtually every aspect of the business—from improved purchasing, receiving, and production processes through to upgrades in delivery and customer service.


“M1 had an immediate and very positive impact on our production department,” explains Parks. “With M1, when we receive a shipment, it’s seen throughout the system. Our purchasers can see when a part arrives in real-time as opposed to having to wait until the next day like they used to. When we input new orders, we also see allocation to the parts necessary to build those orders right away, whereas before, we might have to wait as long as two weeks. And the reports that used to take me days now get done in 30 minutes with M1.”


Read more on the ECi 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 2018 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Distribution_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018DSG


For 2018 Manufacturing Software Guide:
http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2018_Manufacturing_Software_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadElectronic&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2018MFG


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

Also, read our 2018 Mid-Year Supplements 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

Pequot Tool & Manufacturing Fuels Growth With ECi's M1 ERP

Ask Mark Shervey what he likes about M1 software from ECi Software Solutions and the answer you get is deceptively simple. “Since we moved to M1, we’ve never been down except for planned updates or server maintenance and we’ve never lost data once. And when you need something, they take care of you.”  

When Shervey came on board in 2000, sales at Pequot stood at around $4.5 million. Today, they’re running at $18 million and growing, with a customer base that extends literally from coast to coast. The company operates out of some 83,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space that houses state of the art machining and fabrication equipment. And they recently added another 12,000 sq. ft. to the operation.  

With the exception of some specialized CAD software for programming machines and another program for inspecting parts to eliminate paper on the shop floor, Shervey and his team use M1 to manage just about every aspect of Pequot Tool’s operations—from the initial quote and order through job tracking and scheduling activity on the shop floor to the final invoice. 

Pequot Tool made a commitment to go paperless several years ago and now, thanks to M1, the company is about 90% there, Shervey reports. “We’ve got terminals at every work center and if there’s an issue with a particular part or process, our people can flag it in the system so that it automatically shows up the next time it’s used,” he explains. “Everything is scanned and archived electronically and while we still have a few filing cabinets around the plant, about the only thing our people keep in them any more is their lunch!”

Remarkably, the entire IT department at Pequot Tool consists of one full-time and one part-time employee, supported by an outside consulting company that spends about 30 hours a month on the job, Shervey reports.

“M1 has been a valuable partner for us,” says Shervey. “The software consistently exceeds our expectations and the results speak for themselves. I can’t imagine where we’d be without it and I certainly can’t imagine any reason why we would change.”



Learn more at the ECi 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.

Brooks Forgings Makes Competitive Gains With ECi M1

Brooks Forgings, a leading manufacturer of forged, fabricated and machined components, is using M1 ERP from ECi Software Solutions to help its business evolve and succeed in a fiercely competitive marketplace.

Established in 1960, Brooks Forgings offers a diverse range of manufacturing processes from a new and dedicated 45,000 sq ft facility based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, UK. This is supported by a newly refurbished warehouse facility nearby housing over 2500 pallets of stock comprising standard items and specials for customer call-off orders. The company’s in-house manufacturing capacity not only ensures full traceability and quality of components, but also reduces reliance on subcontractors.

In 2003, Brooks replaced their existing ERP system with ECi M1. More than a decade later, M1 has become an integral part of operations at Brooks Forgings and, with the introduction of additional modules every year, is gradually automating greater parts of the company’s day-to-day business functions.

ECi M1 is an ERP software solution designed for growing manufacturers. It automates and integrates every business process from quoting through invoicing and point of sale (POS). The system is both flexible and easy to customize.


Competitive Gain

M1 has provided Brooks with the essential functions that help manufacturers achieve competitive gain. These include: scheduling production to efficiently make use of resources; managing production jobs through job costing; controlling inventory of raw materials, finished goods and sub-assemblies; analyzing pre- and post-sales activities; maintaining contact details for customers and suppliers; and ensuring quality and managing warranties.

Says Financial Director Adrian Brooks, “While it’s difficult to quantify the exact savings delivered by M1, there is no doubt in my mind that the software has helped this business achieve greater turnover in the past 10 years – during the worst recession in history – without vastly increasing our sales or clerical team. Furthermore, M1 will continue to be an asset moving forwards. We shall have more accurate data collection allowing us to move jobs around more quickly and plan for bottlenecks, while at the same time accounting for unforeseen costs.”


To learn more, visit ECi's Customer News page.


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.

Read our Mid-Year Supplements.

(Direct link, http://www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2016_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.

Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/2016_BSW_Distribution_Interactive_Website_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2016DSG

Manufacturing Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/2016_BSW_Manufacturing_Interactive_Website_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2016MFG

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

Millar, Inc. Improves Productivity and Visibility with ECi's M1

As a leading provider of neurological and cardiac catheters to the clinical and research segments of the healthcare market, the Millar, Inc. not only has to meet a heavy burden of government regulations but also faces the hard reality that anything less than perfection in production could become a source of major problems for someone further down the line.

The good news, though, is that since the company switched to ECi's M1 ERP system in March of 2013, they’ve been more than able to meet those challenges and more besides. The healthcare market is growing and Millar has been experiencing growth. In 2013, headcount at the company stood at about 105; today, it’s close to 140 and growing.

Prior to converting to M1, on-time delivery rates at the company hovered around the low 90s. Today, they’re touching 99%. In addition, most of Millar’s manufacturing is built to stock rather than custom product and the superior visibility M1 provides has allowed the company to keep inventory levels lean while keeping on-time delivery rates high. With M1, the company has a level of confidence about its inventory that it just didn’t have before converting.

As an FDA-regulated business, Millar has very large regulatory demands in terms of the visibility of our product throughout the entire production chain. The company lot-tracks raw materials and components and serial-tracks finished goods for its entire product line. Since switching to M1, production managers can now pull up at any point in the production process a lot number or serial number and see the complete history of that item which not only allows them to maintain traceability on products but it also means the FDA can be provided with information quickly and easily.

Close to three years after Millar went live with M1, the company's enthusiasm for the program is as strong as it was on the go-live day. To read more, and learn how ECi's M1 ERP system can improve your business' productiveity and visibility, visit the ECi 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.

Read our 2016 Mid-Year Supplements.

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.

For 2016 Distribution Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/2016_BSW_Distribution_Interactive_Website_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2016DSG

For 2016 Manufacturing Software Guide: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/2016_BSW_Manufacturing_Interactive_Website_Guide.pdf?utm_source=DownloadInteractive&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=2016MFG

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

Success Story: Precise Manufacturing and M1 from ECi Software

Despite the challenges of a persistently weak economy and fierce competition, both domestically and from overseas, Precise Manufacturing doubled revenues over the past five years, increased sales to existing accounts, and acquired a nearby competitor to significantly broaden both its custom machining capabilities and its customer and vendor base.

Precise converted to ECi's M1 in 2009 and the implementation brought a whole new level of productivity and efficiency to the business. “With our old system, renewing quotes or making minor changes was a painful process,” said president and owner, John Whitcraft. “M1 does all that really easy and gives us the ability to take a quote to market much faster.”

Customer service at Precise also benefitted from the move to M1 as it allowed for immediate answers to questions as has financial management. Says Whitcraft, “With M1, we can complete a monthly financial close literally within just one or two days after the last day of the month. And because M1 uses an SQL database instead of a proprietary system, exporting data into Crystal Reports or Excel is so much easier.”

To learn more about the Precise Manufacturing case study, visit the ECi M1 website.

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides for 2013 are currently available.

You can download each one directly, or visit our main website to request a copy. Please follow the links below.

2013 Distribution Software

2013 Manufacturing Software

You can also request these guides, as well as all other materials, via our website: http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

Follow Us on Twitter