Industry-Leading Tech Means Better Fabricated Products for You
February 05, 2020
There has been a lot of discussion about Industry 4.0 and how it will affect the future. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what is practical application and what is speculation. Here at Laser Precision, we already employ state-of-the-art technology in our operations. In this post, we will review several of our current electronic systems and explain exactly how the data we collect is turned into working information that has direct benefits for you.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
We are fully EDI compatible. It is the entry point for all the data that drives our electronic systems. Our EDI platform supports Electronic Orders, Schedule Changes, RFQ, ASN, Invoicing and other information as defined by you, the customer. The difference is we can electronically coordinate and reschedule up to 4,800 modifications daily with virtually no human intervention. Programs automatically modify schedules, material requirements, priorities, capacity plans and synchronize all elements of the Electronic Demand Profile (more on that in a bit) to match your requirements for success.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Data from the EDI flows into our ERP system, which lets us track internal sequences within our processes and modify as needed. The ERP includes a system of integrated applications to manage the manufacturing process, and it’s programmed to continuously update you on progress according to industry standards. This allows us to make sure your products will be done right the first time, on time. The system is the foundation of how we keep up with production demands and sustain our success.
Electronic Demand Profile (EDP)
For every part we manufacture, we generate an EDP through our ERP software. In other words, we can capture all the data about the specific part plus all the operations (laser cutting, forming, welding, etc.), materials and actions needed to fabricate the piece. Anything anyone needs to know about the job is right there. From sales to purchasing to the individual machines, each Laser Precision employee has a dashboard that shows the actions they must take to complete the job. An EDP is also created for every new part or new variations of an existing part.
Material Resource Planning (MRP)
Also driven by the EDI, MRP ensures adequate material and inventory is always available for consumption. We have actually developed an innovative new platform for the procurement of metal parts and assemblies. Utilizing state-of-the-art data management technologies, our proprietary ecosystem allows the entire value stream to be synchronized to your demand requirements. We call it Synchronized Sourcing, and it’s the technology that drives our Performance Metrics.
With Synchronized Sourcing, all elements of demand are synchronized: material procurement, part specifications, sub-vendor demand, order entry, order scheduling, order expediting, machinery and labor allocation, quality requirements, finishing requirements, packaging, shipping coordination, electronic ship notification and electronic invoicing. All value stream elements are defined and coordinated into the EDP. This profile is continuously updated and refined to ensure requirements are met, on-time, to exact specifications. This process is fully automated and, as with our other systems, is accomplished with virtually no human intervention.
Currently, we maintain a 99.92% enterprise on-time delivery rate thanks to our suite of electronic data systems. We interpret, decipher, and make decisions about demand elements instantly. This separates us from our competition and brings us to the head of the class when it comes to performance metrics.
All this to say: When you work with Laser Precision, you can rest assured that your metal fabrication will arrive on time and in great quality. Want to know more? Contact us today.