Experience the look and feel of SecturaSOFT’s quoting and estimating solution for packaging customers: SecturaPAQ. The tool allows manufacturers to optimize and automate their packaging, printing, and container cutting activities. SecturaPAQ uses graphical representation & nesting logic to optimize the quote generation process for manufacturers primarily in the folded carton and print & pack industries. Below is a video that provides a high-level overview of the tool.
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, or renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Bracelet Manufacturing Group (BMG) is a U.S.-based contract manufacturer of precision machined parts and assemblies. Founded in 1950, the family-owned and operated company’s advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities cover initial design, production, packaging, and shipping. Today, BMG delivers its manufacturing and supply chain management services to global customers in the aerospace, medical, energy, automotive, industrial, agricultural, ordnance, and oil and gas sectors.
Success Highlights
Challenges
Streamline and standardize operations across multiple geographies
Simplify the management of in-country legal, taxation, and accounting standards
Achieve a single, transparent view into global operations
Solution
Epicor® ERP
Benefits
Unified information flows enhanced decision-making across the business
Enabled business process reengineering with a global perspective
Fully aligned operations in U.S. and China with consistent, end-to-end business and costing practices
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
For nearly 100 years, Mid-West Metal Products has been a premium producer of wire-formed, sheet metal fabricated, and tubular metal products for customers ranging from leading global corporations to small emerging enterprises.
With four locations in Muncie, Indiana, including three manufacturing facilities, as well as production operations in Dalian, China, the company specializes in the custom design and manufacturing of items like enclosures, bag stands, pet crates, shelving, and displays from concept to finished product. This is performed in both a “job shop” atmosphere as well as a wholesaler/distribution environment dedicated to quality, timeliness, and competitive pricing.
Success Highlights
Challenges
Facilitate the growth of this wholesaling and industrial fabrication company by creating easy access to historical sales information, while automating shipping, processing, packing, and picking activities across five locations
Solution
Epicor® ERP
Benefits
Identified numerous production inefficiencies, which enabled Mid-West to reduce labor costs by 20 percent and increase sales by 30 percent during the first year of use
Provided a clearer picture of both profitable and non-profitable product lines
Streamlined order processing and eliminating the need for sales representatives to fax requests or constantly follow up to learn the status of orders
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Berry Plastics is a leading global consumer packaging group and a leading global beverage can maker. The Berlin, Ohio plant manufactures plastic prescription pill containers and plastic packaging for liquid products, and it’s one of several Berry Plastics facilities in North America now using Epicor Mattec MES—the Epicor real-time production monitoring and manufacturing execution system.
Success Highlights
Challenges
Institute a standardized system of reporting and data collection for more advanced insight into the production process
Solution
Epicor® Advanced MES, formerly Mattec MES
Benefits
Improved production and process control for better decision making
Increased machine efficiency with standardized OEE reports
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Grupo PEOSA, Plega Envases de Occidente, is a manufacturer of cardboard sheets and packaging of the best quality produced with leading-edge technology and a modern system. The company’s main products are folded, preprinted, and micro-corrugated packaging, cardboard sheets, and Single-face. This case study shows how the company has gained visibility in the manufacturing process and improved customer service with Epicor ERP.
Success Highlights
Challenges
Needed an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that provided visibility of their production process and that included floor control and automatic production programming in its functionality
To drive the production programming area
Improve accounting operations
To have a more efficient decision-making process through updated business data
Solution
Epicor® ERP
Benefits
One-click access to reliable, real-time information on the company’s production, administration, and billing processes
Visibility of every part of the manufacturing process
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Kaufman had been running several non-integrated systems before the implementation of Epicor ERP. During that time, these non-integrated platforms led to colleagues having to do each other’s jobs. One example included a lack of confidence in the inventory on hand. with no trust in the system data, users had to manually confirm inventory availability.
The Epicor implementation effort was owned by Kaufman IT Director Larry Keilin. “The transition from our old system to our new system was less painful than I expected for many employees, the day you switch from an old system to a new system is the day they love the old system,” Keilin commented. “A large number of our employees got on the Epicor bandwagon and became excited about all the work they can now do that they couldn’t do before. We are truly seeing the benefits, for example, for the purchasing department, the Buyers Workbench is such a useful tool that it stands out, and our customer service department loves the way they can take an old order, copy it, and create a new one-it’s a huge time saver for them.”
The Details
70 Concurrent Office Users
15 Concurrent Data Collection Users
8 Database Users
On-Premise Deployment
The Challenge
Challenges for this project are both substantial and essential to overcome if Kaufman were to make the most of its new ERP system. First, overcoming the lack of visibility for purchasing decisions, which up until this point had been made using days’ worth of research and inventory management via Microsoft® Excel® worksheets, would be essential.
Second, The lack of real-time transaction data gave little insight into how Kaufman was performing at any given point in time. Finally, the organization’s multiple costing methodologies provided inconsistent gross margin calculations.
The Goals
Kaufman Container implemented its Epicor ERP solution with the primary goals of:
Better tracking of sales and gross margin data to salespersons and customers.
Improve inventory management.
Integrate production management.
Growing revenue and profitability.
The Results
Encompass Solutions was contracted by Kaufman to perform an end-to-end business process review (BPR) which was critical in helping to determine the optimal business processes to follow. This would yield the maximum benefit from the newly implemented Epicor ERP product. The BRP was completed in just one week and helped outline areas for improvement as well as recommendations for systems and process improvement moving forward into implementation.
Every business area was taken into account during the assessment and recommendations for changes in engineering, production, inventory, purchasing, costing, and accounting departments were presented. In particular, a go-forward path that included additional modules to offer a substantial benefit to production and inventory management was provided by Encompass.
When asked how he felt we performed in our assessment, Keilin offered, “Encompass has done a great job at assessing the situation, with BPR guidance to systematically attack and resolve pain points following the implementation.”
Improvements included:
High return on investment that saw overhead costs cut by 30%.
System usability improved significantly as a result of easy-to-use dashboards and report generation.
Business Process Management (BPM) provided users the ability to set conditions and actions that added functionality to the system, tailoring screens and processes as needed.
Reorganization of sites, warehouses, and bins enabled quick and easy product location for issuing to jobs or shipping.
Parts purchasing was made easier with the visibility of time phase reporting.
The consistent average cost across all product lines.
For the past 100 years, Kaufman Container has been a leader in the North American market in providing quality and innovative packaging components and value-added services. From our beginning, our focus has always been on giving our customers exactly what they are looking for. Kaufman Container continues to be your “One Stop Shop” for all your packaging needs.
Today, Kaufman Container continues to be a privately-held, family-owned business that operates two key facilities in the Midwest. The business offers a wide variety of products and services, warehousing, quality and technical support, logistics assistance, and an in-house decorating facility.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm, a NetSuite Solution Provider, and an Epicor Platinum Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
It’s been said that the only thing worse than drinking a warm beverage is watching someone else drink a cold one. This doesn’t have to be a fate you’ll taste any longer thanks to an exciting new twist in beverage packaging technology.
On-Demand Chilled Beverage Packaging Technology
The new technology Chill-Can presents improves the manufacturing ability of such options, making it a viable option for beverage manufacturers. Using liquefied CO2 as the coolant in this Heat Exchange Unit (HEU), this two-piece twist mechanism makes the simple chilling of beverages while on the go a reality. In total, it takes about 80 seconds for the activated product to cool the beverage kept inside its housing. The device can even be shaped for specific applications, be it 8oz, 12oz, 16oz, or any other style of beverage can.
The device itself weighs about 150g grams and will lower the affected beverage’s temperature by around 30 degrees. Makers of the Chill-Can, The Joseph Co., currently hold 31 patents that pertain to the unique technology, its manufacturing process, and the HEU coatings.
The Chill-Can currently costs consumers an additional $1.50 on top of the cost of the associated beverage, a price point the market has quickly responded to and, according to Joseph, retailers “couldn’t keep them on the shelf.”
Going Beyond Beverage Packaging Technology And Manufacturing
The Chill Can beverage packaging technology has enjoyed resounding approval from consumers since its debut, but many look forward to applications that benefit humanity beyond quenching thirst on a hot day.
The medical field stands to benefit greatly from this mobile chilling technology. Organs being transported from donors to recipients are an obvious application, but fragile medicines and lab samples that need to be kept cool while in transit are other applications that will likely benefit from this technology as it develops.
The full Packaging Digest article on the Chill-Can and an interview with, the chairman/CEO of The Joseph Co. Intl and West Coast Chill, Mitchell Joseph, can be found here.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm and Epicor Platinum Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
