Greenhill Industrial Supply Achieves Success With DDI

Greenhill Industrial Supply built its business by providing friendly, dependable service to a local customer base in Bronx, NY. Since the 1930’s, Greenhill has evolved into a distributor of hand and power tools, fasteners, hardware and other building and maintenance supplies to contractors, institutions, hospitals and other businesses in the boroughs of New York. 

After Lenny Gamss bought the business in 1987, he began introducing new technologies to help the company operate more efficiently. After several years, he decided they had outgrown the business's home-grown computer system and needed a more sophisticated and comprehensive business solution. Gamss went in search of a software system that would combine their inventory, purchasing, customer and sales history, receivables and other data critical to running a distribution company. He chose DDI System and realized immediate efficiencies and process improvements.

“Our switch to DDI System’s distribution-centric software made us more efficient. Enhanced data management and inventory control, automated credit card processing and improved customer service are just some of the ways technology benefits our company,” said Lenny Gamss. In recent years, Lenny has upgraded his company once again to DDI’s window-based Inform distribution software. Together with his son, Jeff, they are taking advantage of the latest in technology and the integrated innovations that DDI offers on a continued basis.

To learn more and request a demo, visit the DDI 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.



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Vaillant Industrial Selects QAD's DynaSys Cloud Production Planning

DynaSys, a division of QAD Inc., and a leading provider of demand and supply chain planning solutions, recently announced that Vaillant Industrial, one of Europe's leading heating and boiler manufacturing companies, will implement the DynaSys Cloud Production Planning solution to improve its manufacturing planning process.

DynaSys provides integrated and collaborative planning solution that allows businesses to optimize their supply chains, including sales and operations planning, demand planning, and network, inventory and business resources optimizations. DynaSys software enables customers to meet their goals of better managing Demand and Supply Chain Planning, and becoming more effective enterprises.

Vaillant was founded in 1874 and is currently the second-largest company in the European heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry. Its core business centers on the development and distribution of energy-saving, environmentally friendly heating systems and water heaters based on natural gas and renewable energy sources.

After investigating several demand and supply chain solutions, Vaillant chose DynaSys for the following reasons:
•A comprehensive production planning tool.
•The ability to easily incorporate DynaSys Demand Planning.
•The Cloud model was best for their business.
•A structured Easy On Boarding project methodology.

To learn more about QAD Inc. and DynaSys Cloud Production Planning, and read additional case studies and customer testimonials, visit the QAD 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 the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group, 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 Consulting Group and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard.

Belden Brick Utilizes Infor LN For Data Visibility

Founded in 1885, the Belden Brick Company manufactures approximately 225 million bricks annually for residential and commercial use. Belden operates seven plants in Ohio and the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the US. It also operates 160 wells producing natural gas used in the brick manufacturing process. When Belden acquired Redland Brick Company, the company chose to implement the open-platform Infor LN on Microsoft® Windows® and SQL Server®. In just over a year, the implementation was completed at Redland, and at the Belden operations six months later.

The implementation provided an opportunity to simplify the master data across the combined Belden and Redland businesses and achieve a common standard—something that Infor’s migration toolkit could manage easily. Since implementation, the company has seen important benefits in the system’s user interface alone. The filtering functionality of Infor LN is also key. Users such as production managers and salespeople can create their own filters for each screen, so they can focus on the data that is important to them. If they want to focus on a certain size, color, or shape of brick, they can do that as they look down through their inventory. Production managers also appreciate having only one transaction screen for analyzing the quantity of scrap produced on a production run and why it occurred.

The company has also implemented the Service module of Infor LN as an internal tool to manage the maintenance of the company’s trucks, bulldozers, service vehicles, kilns, and other assets. They also plan to use the system’s functionality to monitor what its gas wells are producing, and then manage the payment of royalties to those from whom Belden has acquired mineral rights.

To read more about the Belden implementation, and learn more about the products and services Infor provides to industrial manufacturers, visit the Infor 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 the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group, 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 Consulting Group and to use our Software Features Comparison Wizard.

  

Kaman Deploys Infor, Boosts Savings

Infor, an international provider of business application software, recently announced that Kaman Industrial Technologies has successfully implemented Infor Distribution SX.e at 15 locations.

Based in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Kaman Industrial Technologies is a subsidiary of Kaman Corporation that provides a wide range of products and systems for the MRO and OEM markets. With almost 200 branches and major regional distribution centers, Kaman is one of North America's largest industrial distributors.

Kaman will rely upon Infor ION, a flexible middleware platform, to enable integration between Infor Lawson Financials and Infor SX.e. These 15 locations represent the first phase of Kaman's plan to convert multiple, disparate enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems supporting hundreds of locations across the U.S. Once fully deployed, Infor SX.e will provide employees with greater visibility across the enterprise and create the ability for aggregation and analysis of information from both systems; simultaneously facilitating better-informed decision-making.

Kaman elected to implement Infor SX.e to better position the company for future growth, while improving the customer experience and facilitating greater collaboration between sales units at different locations. By reducing the number of disparate technology environments, Kaman will be better equipped to expand product and service offerings to help increase sales. Infor SX.e will also facilitate savings by providing tools to enable more effective ordering.

For more information on Infor Distribution, please visit www.infor.com/industries/distribution.

The Brown Smith Wallace 2014-15 Distribution and Manufacturing Software Guides are currently available for download. Please contact snelson@bswllc.com for more information about these latest editions.

2014-15 Distribution Software Guide: 

http://track.websiteceo.com/r/160948/www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2014_Distribution_Software_Guide_From_Blog.pdf

 

2014-15 Manufacturing Software Guide: 

http://track.websiteceo.com/r/160948/www.software4distributors.com/downloads/2014_Manufacturing_Software_Guide_From_Blog.pdf

 

Additional materials: 

http://www.software4distributors.com/vendor/resources_index.aspx

 

Going Mobile Unlocks Business Benefits for Industrial Users

How do you access enterprise software from mobile devices while doing maintenance work and other asset management activities?

It’s a question that was recently asked executives at industrial companies with more than $50 million in annual revenue and have some involvement with enterprise software selection.

Some of the answers were surprising. No business leader would argue against the importance and benefits of well-maintained equipment, prolonged asset life and reductions in downtime and operating costs. In mission critical environments like aerospace and defense or oil and gas, real time visibility into asset condition is highly desirable, and only is possible when technicians can enter activity and condition information real time, on a mobile device.

Yet while being able to access data on those assets, from an appropriate mobile device, is a highly-desired function for all the business executives we spoke to, the reality just doesn’t match their expectations.

Learn more about the executive viewpoint and their mobile reality on the IFS blog.

To learn more about the ways ERP Distribution Software can improve your business, visit the Advanced Distribution Today blog.

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

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Get Ready for PTDA's University of Industrial Distribution

Join Brown Smith Wallace at PTDA's University of Industrial Distribution from March 10-13, 2013 at the J.W. Marriott Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Visit the University of Industrial Distribution website for details, accreditation and CEU information, and to register. This program historically sells out—registration will close on February 22 or when the program is full.

Recognized for its excellence in education, the PTDA-sponsored University of Industrial Distribution (UID), in cooperation with both Indiana University and Purdue University, is a concentrated, continuing-education program focused on the unique needs of the industrial distribution industry. The four-day program allows attendees to build a custom curriculum from 30 courses on the key functional disciplines relevant to industrial distribution. Participants earn credits toward their Certificate in Industrial Distribution from Purdue University.

Who should attend:
• CEOs
• Branch managers
• Sales and marketing managers
• Purchasing managers
• Human resources directors
• Operations managers
• Inventory managers
• Training managers
• Manufacturer personnel in regional sales, distribution sales and marketing management

You’ll learn how to:
• Differentiate your distribution company for your specific and unique market environment
• Improve your bottom line profitability by effectively managing the negotiation process
• Develop a pricing strategy and a plan for executing that strategy
• Manage operations and branches efficiently and profitably
• Create a marketing plan that wins new business
• Motivate employees through your personal leadership style
• Hire and keep the right salespeople

Hope to see you there!

The Brown Smith Wallace Distribution Software Guide, Manufacturing Software Guide, and Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Software Supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!

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Join US at PTDA's University of Industrial Distribution

Join Brown Smith Wallace at PTDA's University of Industrial Distribution from March 10-13, 2013 at the J.W. Marriott Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Visit the University of Industrial Distribution website for details, accreditation and CEU information, and to register. This program historically sells out—registration will close on February 22 or when the program is full.

Recognized for its excellence in education, the PTDA-sponsored University of Industrial Distribution (UID), in cooperation with both Indiana University and Purdue University, is a concentrated, continuing-education program focused on the unique needs of the industrial distribution industry. The four-day program allows attendees to build a custom curriculum from 30 courses on the key functional disciplines relevant to industrial distribution. Participants earn credits toward their Certificate in Industrial Distribution from Purdue University.

Who should attend: • CEOs • Branch managers • Sales and marketing managers • Purchasing managers • Human resources directors • Operations managers • Inventory managers • Training managers • Manufacturer personnel in regional sales, distribution sales and marketing management

You’ll learn how to: • Differentiate your distribution company for your specific and unique market environment • Improve your bottom line profitability by effectively managing the negotiation process • Develop a pricing strategy and a plan for executing that strategy • Manage operations and branches efficiently and profitably • Create a marketing plan that wins new business • Motivate employees through your personal leadership style • Hire and keep the right salespeople

Hope to see you there!

The Brown Smith Wallace Industrial Distribution, Industrial Manufacturing, and Contractor Supply software supplements have recently been updated. Visit our website to download your copy!

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Competing in Time: 5 Targets for a Distributor's Hit List Educational Webcast

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 @ 10:00am ET and 7:00am PT for one hour.  Featured Speakers are Steve Epner-Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group, Brian Lombardo-Infor Distribution, and Anna Wells-Industrial Distribution.

Speed is the best competitive differentiator for distributors. The faster you obtain relevant information, the better you are able to offer the best level of service to your customers and suppliers. Competing by price has its challenges, but competing in time is an area where every distributor has a chance to succeed.

According to Steve Epner, CSP, Brown Smith and Wallace Consulting Group in the whitepaper, Competing in Time, there are 5 key time management targets that distributors should consider to help them gain efficiencies and increase service levels. The question is how do you gain the benefits of time?

Consider all your business processes. Do you know exactly how much time it takes:

• From order entry to fulfillment?

• From printing a pick ticket to packing is complete?

• From shipping confirmation to invoicing?

• From receipt of a complaint to resolution?

Attend this webinar featuring Steve Epner, CSP, Brown Smith and Wallace Consulting Group, and Brian Lombardo, Industry Solutions Director, Infor Distribution, as they take a closer look at the 5 targets and apply real world examples of how you can gain the benefits of time, how you can improve your processes, and how your ERP can help facilitate these objectives.

You'll have the opportunity to pose questions to the expert panel via email at the conclusion of this webcast.
Register Free

Why Is The Distribution Industry Growing Faster Than The Economy?

Revenues for industrial distributors increased 19.1 percent to $353.3 billion in 2011, and revenues are expected to grow 10.1 percent in 2012, according to financials from the Wholesale Distribution Economic Report.

Distributors often suggest issues are created when the manufacturers can sell directly to the customer, but this suggests distributors are actually getting a larger share of the business. Revenues of wholesale distributors grew by 13.2 percent to $4.7 trillion in 2011, with growth expected to grow by 6.8 percent in 2012.

Read more about the growth rates and forecasts on the Advanced Distribution Today blog.

The Brown Smith Wallace 2012 Mid-Year Supplements are available. Visit our website to download your copy!

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Announcing 2010 Mid-Year Supplements

Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazines and the Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group, these 20 page Supplement Guides provide valuable, independently researched information. Readers will find detailed software company information, which vertical markets the software packages serve, highlights of functions and technology features, new developments to the software packages, graphs of the user range, basic entry price point, sales channel information like how and where the software is sold, along with company contact information. The Supplement Guides address numerous key areas in the software evaluation and selection process.

To learn more about researching, evaluating, analyzing and comparing software request the 2010 Mid-Year Supplement Guides released this month.

To order a complimentary copy visit
http://www.software4distributors.com/mid-year_supplement/Download_Supplements.aspx

Increasing Industrial Distribution Profitability by Segmenting Customers, Suppliers and Products

By Steve Epner

In the current tough economic times, Industrial Distributors must use every advantage to improve operations, reduce costs and ultimately increase returns for stakeholders. Organizations that have access to and are willing to make better use of specific ERP applications can integrate the concepts of metrics and segmentation into the business for outsized results.

An important element in management theory is the simple concept:”If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it.” By examining how to make information more visible to the distributor, it is possible to increase their ability to take charge of and manage their environment.

Once the metrics are available, then the use of Segmentation becomes a viable option to better manage the assets of an organization. Using measurements of “value” and profitability” it is possible to divide groups (customers, suppliers, and products) into subcategories which can be individually managed to provide the greatest benefit to the operation. Industrial distributors can use this concept to provide an objective basis for increasing the return on all assets.

For many Industrial distributors, the greatest hurdle will be learning how to develop, track and report the information hidden in their automation systems. Information collected and stored within a modern and properly configured ERP system combined with applications (such as Business Intelligence) can be used to fine tune pricing, inventory, purchasing and customer service levels based on objective measures of value and contribution to profitability.

Companies who make more effective operational decisions based on metrics and segmentation can outperform the competition in all aspects of business.

To read more click on this website: http://www.software4distributors.com/media/whitepapers/BSWCWhitepaper_Increasing_Industrial_Distribution_Profitability.pdf

For Immediate Release: From the Editor and Associate Publisher of Industrial Distribution Magazine by Jack Keough

To learn more about researching, evaluating, analyzing and comparing software request the 2008 Industrial Distribution Supplement Guide released this month To order a complimentary copy visit http://www.software4distributors.com/supplementguide/default.aspx.

In a recent survey conducted by Industrial Distribution, distributors told us that one of their top concerns was soaring operational costs. It’s been a continuing problem that has been rising in importance in recent years.

One of the chief ways distributors can reduce those costs is through the use of technology. With the advent of expanded technological software, distributors can reduce errors in shipments; track and control inventory; and improve the manufacturer-distributor relationship as well as the customer-distributor relationship.

Technology can help in all those areas. But finding, evaluating and deciding on which software provides the best solution to solve your specific problem can be a daunting and time consuming task. That’s why Industrial Distribution is publishing this special section. This report, a supplement to the 18th edition of the Brown, Smith, Wallace Consulting Group’s Distribution Software Guide, is the number one source of detailed information for distribution-oriented companies beginning their selection process for new business software.

The guide is designed to provide independently researched information to make it easier for distributors to evaluate and select the right software for their specific needs.

Our survey clearly indicates that distributorships of all sizes will be looking for information on how technology can improve their internal and external operations. We hope this supplement will help you research, evaluate, compare and analyze the tools that are essential to your business operations.

About The Author: Jack Keough has been editor of Industrial Distribution for 21 years. Nine years ago he was also named associate publisher. Jack is considered a leading spokesman for the distribution industry. He has spoken at many industry conventions as well as at national sales meetings. He has also served as a panelist on radio and television and taught journalism at the college level. Prior to joining Industrial Distribution, Jack worked with community newspapers in Massachusetts for 15 years. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts.

About The Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group: The Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group has been serving the distribution community for more than 20 years through the publication of the Distribution Software Guide, speaking at industry programs, giving free telephone advice to distributors and providing fee-based consulting services to companies who need help selecting the best software packages for their business. For more information visit http://www.software4distributors.com/.

EDITORS NOTE: Permission to reprint is hereby given to all print, broadcast and electronic media. Permission is also granted for reasonable editing, including article title change and customizing for your audience/industry. Please send a copy of the published information to: Brown Smith Wallace Consulting Group, Sara Nelson, 10151 Corporate Square, Suite 100, St. Louis, MO 63132

For More Information Contact:
Sara Nelson
314.983.1393
snelson@bswllc.com

What’s going on?

It seems clear our economy is slowing down. Although 1^st quarter GNP grew at a slow rate, our newspapers are filled with stories on a troubled economy. The sub prime loan “crisis” has shaken the stock market. Oil prices have increased well beyond previous record levels. Food prices, metals prices, and other commodities have also seen dramatic rises. The Fed has acted aggressively to support our financial infrastructure and interest rates are very low indeed. All signs point to a recession, and we should be very worried about inflation at the same time - what is known as “stagflation”.

And yet:

Nearly every prospect and every customer we talk to is enjoying a very successful year, on top of great results last year. Industrial Distribution magazine reports that the Top 50 distributors ALL report record years in the making. The US manufacturing sector is thriving.

A big part of the answer to this paradox is those low interest rates mentioned above. They have resulted, over a period of several years, to make the US dollar “weaker” against other currencies. As a result, our various products have become much more competitive in the international markets. Our exports are truly booming and this is great for manufacturing, and therefore great for industrial distributors.

However:

That won’t make your job less difficult. Although interest rates are low, lenders have become very timid, given the impact of the sub prime loan problems on financial markets in general. This always impacts small businesses first, and hardest. No doubt you have experienced this if you’ve tried to increase a working capital line of credit lately, or borrowed to purchase a capital asset. Rates are low, but credit standards are very tight indeed.

In addition, given rising commodities prices and more costly imports (the other edge of a weak dollar sword), inflation is a very serious concern. This will impact your business in the form of rising purchasing prices, as manufacturers pass the costs of higher metals and other raw material prices along. This has been going on for several years, of course. The problem comes in maintaining your margins in a competitive market place. In addition, those of you that distribute for foreign manufacturers are seeing prices there (due to the weak dollar) rising much more quickly.

A well run distributor has the tools to deal with these issues and utilizing an ERP solution geared toward your industry is of primary importance. Other than that, there are really only three things to do.

First, aggressively manage your purchasing. Make sure you are buying only what you need, when you need it. Understand your demands at the item level, if necessary. Are you truly using the power of your software to support aggressive purchasing and inventory management? If you haven’t implemented any more than “min / max”, now is the time to dig in and get to a more sophisticated, aggressive and effective process. From the theory behind the process, to the practical applications of inventory management, your software should support Best Practice.

Second, just as you aggressively manage your inventory costs, you must manage your pricing. You need to work toward being able to actively manage each item’s price for each customer, what is labeled “strategic pricing”. You may have a big customer that aggressively negotiates and shops key items he buys from you. But other items he buys out of convenience. He’s not shopping those items, just adding them to the PO. Why give him the deep discount on those convenience items? He’s willing to pay more and probably won’t even notice if you give him your standard discount. There are several other pricing strategies like that one available - if you do the analysis and really understand what each customer is willing to pay. David Bowders of Strategic Pricing, Inc. can help you implement this very important pricing philosophy.

Finally, all small business owners know the importance of low overhead. Now is the time to aggressively manage your costs. If inflation takes hold, this will be critical to your ability to do business. Your software should have detailed reporting capabilities to manage your budget line by line and the tools to make your operation more efficient and streamlined.

If you’re a small business, joining an organization like COSE, the small business division of the Greater Cleveland Partnership – one of the nation’s largest metropolitan chambers of commerce, will help you lower costs by providing group purchasing programs that reduce the direct cost of doing business, and open doors to government agencies, business and community organizations, and economic development partners that can address your business concerns.

There is much to be optimistic about with the US economy. But we all have to manage our way through the ups and downs. Taking advantage of small business resource center of your local chamber of commerce and the tools offered by a well designed and industry specific software will help you lower costs and run your business more efficiently and profitably.

Tim Reynolds is the Chairman of COSE, the Council of Smaller Enterprises, and the President of Tribute, Inc., a firm specializing in distribution management software and support for industrial product distributors. He can be reached at treynolds@tribute.com.