Seemingly unfazed by (although certainly aware of) tough economic environment, Intuitive Manufacturing Systems (www.intuitivemfg.com ), a privately held company offering enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for small and mid-size manufacturers, continues to pragmatically expand its operations worldwide and to unveil significant enhancements to its latest product release.
Most recently, it released Intuitive SPC, an optional statistical process control (SPC) software module for Intuitive ERP (formerly MRP9000), Intuitive's flagship ERP system. Intuitive SPC is a real-time module that combines data collection, charting, monitoring, analysis, communication and reporting � all functions accessible from a single screen. At a glance, any authorized user can then check on the exact status of any process at any workstation, department, or plant locally or around the globe.
Intuitive SPC reportedly allows the user to activate program functions with one mouse click, choose from one of five ways to input data, and close the loop with an �out-of-control' warning for corrective action before operators can proceed. The module also allows the user to cut and paste graphic and table data into virtually any other Windows application. Further, sophisticated analytical capabilities of Intuitive SPC allow users to display up to three sets of control limits on charts, choose estimated or calculated sigma for control limits and process capability calculations, and generate charts from highly refined data queries.
Earlier, towards the end of 2001, Intuitive also announced the release of another optional module, a web-based Advanced Configurator aimed at streamlining the quotation and ordering of configure-to-order (CTO) products to deliver, on-the-fly, accurate pricing, product configuration and specifications, as well as bill-of-material (BOM) and process routings. The Advanced Configurator is reportedly a true "bottom-up," rules-based configurator, providing point-and-click product definition under a rule and constraint-based guidance engine. It can be executed from any Web browser and allows the user to execute product configuration concurrently or independently in either client/server or "thin web client" environments � all utilizing one universal set of product configuration rules and objects. The Advanced Configurator is fully integrated with the sales, inventory, costing and quoting modules of the Intuitive ERP system.
Previously in 2001, Intuitive announced the release of iTrack, a new e-commerce enhancement aimed at increasing customer satisfaction while decreasing sales administrative costs for its customers. iTrack extends the previously available WebRemote functionality by allowing customers to log into Intuitive ERP via the Internet and track the status of their shipments and orders, view a current accounts receivable aging, and make other valuable inquiries specific to their organization.
iTrack was a part of the of the Intuitive ERP Release 5.2, released mid 2001. Version 5.2 added functionality to many areas of the product, including: e-commerce, key process indicator (KPI) tracking and reporting, international improvements, major enhancements to the planning functionality, as well as enhancements throughout the order processing and accounting areas. Other noteworthy enhancements to the product included:
* The Decision Management Tool, which tracks and analyzes KPI from throughout Intuitive ERP to generate 28 different decision points that provide such information as the net sales to inventory ratio, return on net worth, current and quick ratios, margins, and inventory turnover. It also allows the user to generate trend analysis by year, quarter, or individual fiscal period, enabling management to make better, more informed and timelier decisions.
* The Visual Order Pegging module, which utilizes the recently released Dynamic MRP module, a completely memory-resident MRP planning system which drops MRP runs from hours to seconds. The Visual Order Pegging module allows the user to trace up or down the production hierarchy (multi-level) to track the source/use relationships. It then provides the most comprehensive and user-friendly tool on the market to visualize those relationships, graphically display problems areas in the schedule, and highlight the effects of things like new orders or a late-arriving material
Also in 2001, to bolster its basic front-office and sales management offering, Intuitive announced its partnership with Interact Commerce Corporation, makers of SalesLogix, the leader in mid-market and small business customer relationship management (CRM). Intuitive has entered into both Business Partner and Technology Partner agreements with Interact, and will be integrating the SalesLogix package with the Intuitive ERP product. The SalesLogix suite of products includes complete management of the sales cycle, marketing campaign management, customer support management, and eCommerce, all available anytime, anywhere, using essentially any device.
At about the same time, the company announced the expansion of its global partner channel with the signing of 12 international partners throughout 2001. International partners have been signed in the following locations: Turkey, Quebec, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Spain, Czech Republic, Poland, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Singapore, Malaysia, Tijuana, and the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon and Cohuila.
The signings strengthen the existing Intuitive channel to 21 partners outside of North America. Historically, the Intuitive international channel has represented just over 20% of sales revenue, which should likely increase in the future. These new partners join an existing international channel, which includes representatives in Mexico, Brazil, Norway, France, Australia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam.
Concurrently with all the above initiatives, Intuitive has pursued its Microsoft .NET initiative launch. As a member of the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET beta program, the company had been designing and testing its future Microsoft .NET architecture for more than a year. Mid 2001, it announced the completion of the prototype of Intuitive's Microsoft .NET architectural framework and its plan to convert Intuitive ERP to the .NET Framework.
The Microsoft .NET initiative represents a shift that should transform how software applications are built and deployed. Leveraging Microsoft .NET technology should make Intuitive ERP much easier to deploy and maintain, faster to enhance and will allow it to leverage the Internet in through XML Web services. Software written using the .NET Framework is inherently more robust, faster, and easier to administer. For instance, software installation should be accomplished by simply copying files. Intuitive is glad to be saying goodbye to the old problems of Component Object Model (COM)-based software that the development world has often referred to as 'Dynamic Link Library (DLL) Hell' in the past.
Most recently, it released Intuitive SPC, an optional statistical process control (SPC) software module for Intuitive ERP (formerly MRP9000), Intuitive's flagship ERP system. Intuitive SPC is a real-time module that combines data collection, charting, monitoring, analysis, communication and reporting � all functions accessible from a single screen. At a glance, any authorized user can then check on the exact status of any process at any workstation, department, or plant locally or around the globe.
Intuitive SPC reportedly allows the user to activate program functions with one mouse click, choose from one of five ways to input data, and close the loop with an �out-of-control' warning for corrective action before operators can proceed. The module also allows the user to cut and paste graphic and table data into virtually any other Windows application. Further, sophisticated analytical capabilities of Intuitive SPC allow users to display up to three sets of control limits on charts, choose estimated or calculated sigma for control limits and process capability calculations, and generate charts from highly refined data queries.
Earlier, towards the end of 2001, Intuitive also announced the release of another optional module, a web-based Advanced Configurator aimed at streamlining the quotation and ordering of configure-to-order (CTO) products to deliver, on-the-fly, accurate pricing, product configuration and specifications, as well as bill-of-material (BOM) and process routings. The Advanced Configurator is reportedly a true "bottom-up," rules-based configurator, providing point-and-click product definition under a rule and constraint-based guidance engine. It can be executed from any Web browser and allows the user to execute product configuration concurrently or independently in either client/server or "thin web client" environments � all utilizing one universal set of product configuration rules and objects. The Advanced Configurator is fully integrated with the sales, inventory, costing and quoting modules of the Intuitive ERP system.
Previously in 2001, Intuitive announced the release of iTrack, a new e-commerce enhancement aimed at increasing customer satisfaction while decreasing sales administrative costs for its customers. iTrack extends the previously available WebRemote functionality by allowing customers to log into Intuitive ERP via the Internet and track the status of their shipments and orders, view a current accounts receivable aging, and make other valuable inquiries specific to their organization.
iTrack was a part of the of the Intuitive ERP Release 5.2, released mid 2001. Version 5.2 added functionality to many areas of the product, including: e-commerce, key process indicator (KPI) tracking and reporting, international improvements, major enhancements to the planning functionality, as well as enhancements throughout the order processing and accounting areas. Other noteworthy enhancements to the product included:
* The Decision Management Tool, which tracks and analyzes KPI from throughout Intuitive ERP to generate 28 different decision points that provide such information as the net sales to inventory ratio, return on net worth, current and quick ratios, margins, and inventory turnover. It also allows the user to generate trend analysis by year, quarter, or individual fiscal period, enabling management to make better, more informed and timelier decisions.
* The Visual Order Pegging module, which utilizes the recently released Dynamic MRP module, a completely memory-resident MRP planning system which drops MRP runs from hours to seconds. The Visual Order Pegging module allows the user to trace up or down the production hierarchy (multi-level) to track the source/use relationships. It then provides the most comprehensive and user-friendly tool on the market to visualize those relationships, graphically display problems areas in the schedule, and highlight the effects of things like new orders or a late-arriving material
Also in 2001, to bolster its basic front-office and sales management offering, Intuitive announced its partnership with Interact Commerce Corporation, makers of SalesLogix, the leader in mid-market and small business customer relationship management (CRM). Intuitive has entered into both Business Partner and Technology Partner agreements with Interact, and will be integrating the SalesLogix package with the Intuitive ERP product. The SalesLogix suite of products includes complete management of the sales cycle, marketing campaign management, customer support management, and eCommerce, all available anytime, anywhere, using essentially any device.
At about the same time, the company announced the expansion of its global partner channel with the signing of 12 international partners throughout 2001. International partners have been signed in the following locations: Turkey, Quebec, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Spain, Czech Republic, Poland, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Singapore, Malaysia, Tijuana, and the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon and Cohuila.
The signings strengthen the existing Intuitive channel to 21 partners outside of North America. Historically, the Intuitive international channel has represented just over 20% of sales revenue, which should likely increase in the future. These new partners join an existing international channel, which includes representatives in Mexico, Brazil, Norway, France, Australia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam.
Concurrently with all the above initiatives, Intuitive has pursued its Microsoft .NET initiative launch. As a member of the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET beta program, the company had been designing and testing its future Microsoft .NET architecture for more than a year. Mid 2001, it announced the completion of the prototype of Intuitive's Microsoft .NET architectural framework and its plan to convert Intuitive ERP to the .NET Framework.
The Microsoft .NET initiative represents a shift that should transform how software applications are built and deployed. Leveraging Microsoft .NET technology should make Intuitive ERP much easier to deploy and maintain, faster to enhance and will allow it to leverage the Internet in through XML Web services. Software written using the .NET Framework is inherently more robust, faster, and easier to administer. For instance, software installation should be accomplished by simply copying files. Intuitive is glad to be saying goodbye to the old problems of Component Object Model (COM)-based software that the development world has often referred to as 'Dynamic Link Library (DLL) Hell' in the past.
No comments:
Post a Comment