According to Jim Matlock, McCowat-Mercer’s Vice President of Systems, the company has been utilizing a homegrown system for the past three decades, and while the solution was obviously being updated and modified throughout that time, there are inherent limitations to working with a 30-year thought process. “A lot has changed over 30 years,” Mr. Matlock says. “We need much better control over inventory and work orders today, and we need to be extremely flexible in our planning and scheduling.”

 

During the ERP evaluation process, Mr. Matlock says Solarsoft set itself apart from the competition both functionally and in its attitude. “The effort that they put in to do their demo in-plant was pretty amazing. I was thinking that if these guys could put this much effort into showing me what the system would be like in my particular situation – and I’m confident it is flexible enough to satisfy our requirements - imagine what support is going to be like if I buy. Solarsoft acted like they wanted my business.”

 

Though Mr. Matlock foresees the company implementing and leveraging virtually all of Solarsoft iVP’s core front-office and shop-floor functionality, the solution’s Capacity Planning and Scheduling capabilities rank among his most critical. “We’re a pure custom manufacturer, so we don’t know until an order hits the door what we’re going to build,” he says. “Capacity planning is a tool we’ve never had access to before. It’ll let us look at orders that are in the house, so we’ll be able to better judge problems before they get to us and adjust personnel and machine resources. With our legacy system, when we get in a bind we add a second shift or work overtime - whatever it takes. We don’t know we have a problem until the last minute. We haven’t had that crystal ball before.”

 

Enhanced resource efficiencies and lower manufacturing costs, resulting in a rise in McCowat-Mercer’s overall profitability are the overriding benefits Mr. Matlock expects from his selection of Solarsoft iVP - benefits that are critical to the company’s long term success. “There are a lot of big guys out there in our business. There aren’t many of us (small companies) left, because they get eaten up. We have a niche that we do quite well in, and I want to ensure that we stay competitive. I anticipate Solarsoft lending itself to making us more competitive in our market.”

 

 

Solarsoft is a new name in mid-range ERP systems but an established supplier of software tailored to the needs of manufacturers, distributors and merchant & wholesale businesses.  The company has grown organically and through acquisition since 1986.  Over 1,500 firms across North America, Europe and Asia rely on Solarsoft to bring clarity and efficiency to their operations.  Solarsoft was formed from the merger of XKO Software Ltd and CMS Software Inc, a transaction funded by Marlin Equity Partners of Los Angeles.