Case Study: Preparing for ADS-B, Equipping 100,000 Aircraft

Warren Smith August 17, 2016

The FAA estimates that nearly 100,000 aircraft will need to equip with ADS-B Out between now and 2020, but does the U.S. aviation industry have the time and resources to get them done in time? (As reported in Avionics Today)

Companies that supply advanced navigation and electronics systems for private, commercial and military are facing ever increasing challenges to meeting regulatory requirements such as the new requirements for ADS-B. Requirements such as this not only affect the ability for companies to ramp up to the production demand but also the engineering, ERP and business systems that are used to design and build these products. Extending from . . .

Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) ERP for A&D Electronics

How to Handle Increased Regulations and Compliance Required in A&D Electronics

Warren Smith May 24, 2016

Companies that supply components and complete systems for military and defense electronics are facing ever increasing challenges with meeting regulatory requirements such as the ones referenced above from May 12. Regulations such as this not only affect the design and packaging of components and systems but the engineering, ERP, and business systems that are used to design and build these products.

Companies that do not have in place proper. . .

You Might Need to Replace Your ERP If . . .

Bobby Rudder January 8, 2016

I remember a few years ago when “You Might Be a Redneck” jokes were all over the place. There are stores that sprung up in strip malls and shopping outlets simply due to the demand for the Jeff Foxworthy Redneck joke special.

So what do these jokes have to do with ERP? If you find yourself making a list of questions that start with the phrase, “My ERP may need replacing because…”, then you have officially categorized your business like . . .

The Spreadsheet That Ate Chicago - Why Running Your Business with Him is Risky

Bobby Rudder October 15, 2015

Excel is probably one of the most widely used software programs among students, businesses, and manufacturers. It is incredibly versatile and relatively simple to use. Despite its simplicity, it can even compute and perform complex mathematical operations. It is a useful tool and an accessible way to analyze and communicate data.

Despite its usefulness, you may soon find yourself in a love / hate relationship with Excel.

As business develops, so does the amount of data. If your business operations are being managed from spreadsheets there is . . .

To SaaS or Not to SaaS - That is the Question!

Dean Giberson September 24, 2015

SaaS or Software as a Service (Cloud) is a hot topic of conversation everywhere. Software as a Service is not remote hosting of your enterprise system, it is a subscription based service that hosts your business application in a multi-tenant data center somewhere. There are many stated advantages and disadvantages to this model and I hope to cover most if not all of them in as unbiased a way as I can.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of a SaaS deployment:

Are You Hanging On To a Bad Relationship? (With Your Software Systems)

Bobby Rudder August 12, 2015

Typically, a relationship starts with expectation and excitement. And you invest in it to see where it will lead you. Investment comes in many forms, and varies based on the type of relationship. You may invest resources, money, time, and assets, not to mention emotional equity into something that has value to you.

Over a period of time you either discover that the relationship is working for you, or you determine that it's not. In the event that the relationship isn't working, there is usually a natural parting of ways, a "conscious uncoupling", or a dramatic scene that finally spells "the end". No matter how it happens, getting out of a bad relationship is liberating.

Think of all the business relationships you have developed over the years. Often, these relationships are good and built on mutual benefit. On occasion, you will find yourself clinging to something that just isn't working. This can happen for a number of reasons:

A "Dear Santa" Letter for Upgrades You'll Need Next Year

Bobby Rudder December 5, 2014

October was another good month for manufacturing. Despite a slowdown in September, the industry recovered to post a gain in October according to The Institute for Supply Management. And according to Manufacturing.net, the U.S economy increased by 3.5% during the third quarter of 2014.

This is welcome news, considering that just a few short years ago the country was experiencing a recession, and manufacturers were hit hard. However, if you keep up with manufacturing news, there has been more news about manufacturers that are expanding operations, thus indicating that the industry is continuing to grow.

With the holiday season upon us, is it time to ask what manufacturers want from Santa this year? First, let's talk turkey . . .

Take Steps To Free Your Business From Overly Customized Software

Bobby Rudder December 2, 2014

Usually the word "custom" would be used in conjunction with the idea of something special. For instance, the concept of having suits customized and tailored specifically for you. Customizing a home to your tastes would be considered special and unique. The point behind customizing is having something that is specific and specialized for your taste.

The other side of customization is that it is typically expensive. That tailored suit or customized home is incredible, but it cost more than a suit off the rack or the home that was chosen from the builder's stock plans.

It used to be that in order to get an ERP system that would work for your company that it had to be highly customized, and that usually meant really expensive. Not only was it . . .

Death of Windows Server 2003 and You: Thoughts on Survival

Bobby Rudder October 9, 2014

"We're goin' dewn Kep-Tin!"

Scotty was in a sheer state of alarm and panic when he shouted these words to Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. It was time for Captain Kirk to prove once again why he was the most famous of space rebels. His defiance of the traditional methods of keeping space safe from enemies made him admired and hated. So, it was no surprise when at the last minute the instructions that he shouted at the crew were the words that would save them from imminent death.

With the death of Windows Server 2003 support, are you going to be shouting orders to keep the ship from imploding at the last minute? Windows Server 2003 support is ending in July of 2015. This is less than twelve months away, and if you don't . . .

Y2K was 14 Years Ago, Is Your Software Now A Risk?

Bobby Rudder September 29, 2014

In 1999, when you probably last upgraded your ERP system, you were using a red stapler and were just trying to make sure that you were Y2K compliant. Y2K forced many into the position of having to upgrade their ERP systems. It was period of time that was full of questions and ERP vendors were installing a record number of systems, all because of the Y2K compliance requirements.

Do you remember the programmers in the movie Office Space? This group of disgruntled programmers lead lives of quiet desperation, updating code for the Y2K changeover, while . . .

The use of a 100-day plan is a critical tool to capture the promised value from a transaction.

The Successful 100 Day Plan - A Call to Action for Venture Capital & Private Equity Firms

Bobby Rudder May 20, 2014

A recent survey conducted by Grant Thornton and PitchBook asked more than 170 senior executives at Private Equity firms about priorities for driving growth and operational improvements.

The survey showed that 90% of PE firms . . .

Know This Before Your Green Screens & Spreadsheets Sink Your Business

Bobby Rudder March 25, 2014

I know that there are manufacturers still out there using green screens. No judgement, just wondering why? The green screen had its time, but there is more, and it isn't quite the user nightmare that you think.

Now, I know that there are always the skeptics among you, but we are talking about investing in future growth. The skeptics talk about "this is how we have done it for years" and "it works just fine". The skeptic will spend hours telling you how you will lose all your data, or if you want to usher in an apocolypse, then change the software.

Pragmatic Thoughts On Your Assets And Your Oil Changes

Bobby Rudder March 7, 2014

According to the online dictionary, the word pragmatic is defined in the following way:

prag·mat·ic
adjective \prag-'ma-tik\

"dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations"

Isn't that how you want to deal with your company assets? Pragmatically.

Consider your personal vehicle. You get the oil changed, rotate the tires, and keep up with basic maintenance on the vehicle, not because you enjoy spending your money on vehicle maintenance, but because it is pragmatic when considering the life of the vehicle and how long you intend to keep it.

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Manufacturing Performance Specialists