Customer Solution Case Study
/ / Industrial-Irrigation Gains Inventory Confidence
Overview
Country or Region: United States
Industry: Automotive, Farm, and RV
Customer Profile
Established in 1955 as a division of the A.H. Jones Company, Industrial-Irrigation became a separate corporation in 1965. They customize engines (John Deere and General Motors) for a variety of agricultural and industrial purposes.
Business Situation
Industrial-Irrigation was utilizing a manual inventory card system that was vulnerable to natural disaster, human error, and employee turnover. Sales had increased to the point that it became absolutely necessary to move to a business management solution.
Solution
Industrial-Irrigation implemented Microsoft® Business Solutions–Solomon on two servers running Microsoft Windows® Servers 2000, one of which also runs Microsoft SQL Server™.
Benefits
n Improved data integrity and stability
n Improved functionality
n Elimination of redundant data entry
n Improved decision making / “Microsoft Business Solutions is powerful enough to grow with our needs and has provided us the technology to work towards a more efficient operation.”
Justin Osborne, Vice President, Industrial-Irrigation
Industrial-Irrigation was established as a division of A.H. Jones Company in 1955 and became a separate corporation in 1965. They customize engines (John Deere and General Motors) for a variety of agricultural and industrial purposes. Industrial-Irrigation was using a manual inventory card system which was vulnerable to natural disaster, human error, and employee turn-over. They have since migrated the total inventory to Microsoft Business Solutions–Solomon (now part of Microsoft Dynamics™). This solution provides them with unprecedented data integrity and they now have complete confidence in their inventory. Customized SQL scripts run nightly to check the integrity of the inventory. A log is produced and sent to key people who can quickly identify and correct any inventory issues. This has significantly reduced inaccuracies and down-time.
Situation
Industrial-Irrigation was established as a division of the A.H. Jones Company in 1955 and became a separate corporation in 1965. The company is headquartered in Hastings, Nebraska with a branch location in Garden City, Kansas. These two locations have a total of 30 employees.
Industrial-Irrigation customizes John Deere and General Motors engines for use in a wide range of agricultural and industrial applications, including irrigation power units, generator sets, and off-highway equipment. They are also an authorized John Deere Engine Distributor and General Motors Direct OEM supplier.
Industrial-Irrigation first implemented Microsoft® Business Solutions–Solomon on a financial only level (including payroll) in the mid 80's. They utilized the system in that manner until the early 90's when it became necessary to migrate the serialized inventory into the Microsoft Solomon Inventory module. The existing manual inventory card system was vulnerable to natural disaster, human error, and employee turn-over.
At that time, they were operating on one computer running a DOS based system and one computer running Microsoft Excel on Microsoft Windows®. Being a small company, Industrial-Irrigation had no dedicated IT staff and possessed a limited knowledge of technology. When data integrity issues arose, they sought help by contacting Microsoft reselling partner, Darlymple & Associates.
"Our sales had grown to the point that it became absolutely essential for Industiral-Irrigation to be on a business management solution," says Justin Osborne, Vice President.
Solution
Industrial-Irrigation now utilizes two Dell Xeon processor servers running Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. One is dedicated for network and application services, while the other runs Microsoft SQL Server™. Their network operates with 14 work stations.
They implemented Microsoft Business Solutions–Solomon including the modules for HR Management, Financial Management, Customization Tools, and Supply Chain Management. Microsoft reselling partner, Darlymple & Associates, added customizations to the Order Management module providing the ability to manage internal and shop orders to produce custom manufactured products.
Customized SQL scripts were added to run nightly inventory checks. Another customization interfaces information back to the John Deere information systems.
Industrial-Irrigation has completed migration of the remaining 3000+ inventory items into Solomon from the existing manual inventory card system.
"Microsoft Business Solutions offers a large menu of out of box functionality and, where needed, has been specifically customized to our requirements," says Osborne. "Through the use of training manuals, we have been able to educate our users on the functionality they require."
Benefits
Improved Data Integrity and Stability
Customized SQL scripts are run nightly to check the integrity of the inventory. A log is produced and sent to key people who can quickly identify and correct any inventory issues. This has greatly reduced the number of inventory inaccuracies and down-time that Industrial-Irrigation had previously experienced. They now have confidence in their software and know the integrity of the data presented to them is accurate.
Improved Functionality
The Order Management module has the functionality to manage internal and shop orders for producing custom manufactured products.
Elimination of Redundant Data Entry
The latest module implemented by Industrial-Irrigation, the Purchasing module, works seamlessly with Accounts Payable. It has eliminated redundant data entry and has helped maintain the accuracy and stability of the inventory. The system has also been customized to interface information back to John Deere information systems, thus, eliminating further redundancy. “Microsoft Business Solutions is powerful enough to grow with our needs and has provided us the technology to work towards a more efficient operation,” says Osborne.
Improved Decision Making
Improved control of inventory and a better understanding of their business enable personnel to make more informed decisions for the future of their business. They have a found confidence in their new solution.
Professional Presentation
Implementing the Order Management module has added professionalism to documents used by Industrial-Irrigation.
Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of integrated, adaptable business management solutions that enables you and your people to make business decisions with greater confidence. Microsoft Dynamics works like familiar Microsoft software such as Microsoft Office, which means less of a learning curve for your people, so they can get up and running quickly and focus on what’s most important. And because it is from Microsoft, it easily works with the systemsthat your company already has implemented. By automating and streamlining financial, customer relationship, and supply chain processes, Microsoft Dynamics brings together people, processes, and technologies, increasing the productivity and effectiveness of your business, and helping you drive business success.
For more information about Microsoft Dynamics, go to:
www.microsoft.com/dynamics