Blog Posts

Topics: Manufacturing, ERP

November 19, 2018

The Latest Trend in Implementing Manufacturing ERP Software

The purchase of new manufacturing ERP software is usually driven by a desire to innovate, differentiate, cut costs, and create efficiency.

Topics: Manufacturing, IoT & Analytics

November 12, 2018

How Business Intelligence Helps Manufacturers

A challenge that seems to be universal within the manufacturing industry is deciding on technology and which advances to make. Because there are so many options to implement and grow your business, ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing

October 16, 2018

Bored of Baan? We can help.

Background Baan Corporation, founded in 1978, was one of the first dominant ERP software companies. It became famous for its Dynamic Enterprise Modeler and technical architecture and became a threat ...

Topics: CRM, Manufacturing

September 25, 2018

How to Ensure a Successful CRM Implementation for Manufacturers

We’ve seen some smooth and easy CRM implementations in the manufacturing industry, so we feel confident about what must take place for the implementation to be successful. Here are 4 quick ...

Topics: Manufacturing, IoT & Analytics

August 14, 2018

Benefits of Cloud Computing for Manufacturers

In recent years, the term ‘cloud’ has made quite an impact in our lives and in our businesses. But for the manufacturing industry, it is just now starting to make its debut with more and more ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing

August 09, 2018

How to Ensure a Successful ERP Implementation for Manufacturers

Yes, we know. The words ‘ERP implementation’ can sound expensive, time consuming and questionable. And yes, 10 years ago, technology implementations were difficult. But that was a different time. ...

Topics: CRM, Manufacturing

July 06, 2018

How D365 CRM is Transforming the Chemicals & Plastics Industry

The chemicals & plastics industry is mature with big-named companies that have been around for many decades, including Dow, Shell, ExxonMobil and more. It is a unique industry that has continuously ...

Topics: Field Service, CRM, Manufacturing, Energy

March 16, 2018

Why is Connected Field Service becoming so popular?

Field service without an onsite technician? Yes! It’s possible. Imagine how much time and money you could save and how much value you could add for customers, if you were able to resolve most ...

Topics: IoT & Analytics, Manufacturing

March 08, 2018

Use of Blockchain in the Manufacturing Industry

Recently we talked about blockchain in the oil & gas industry, and the next logical question is…

Topics: Manufacturing

February 08, 2018

10 Lessons Learned after 30 Years in Manufacturing

1. Disrupt or be disrupted.

Topics: Manufacturing

February 08, 2018

Technology’s Role in the Manufacturing Revolution

When you have money to improve operations, what is the best use of that budget? Do you hire more workers? Buy new equipment? Or do you invest in software technology?

Topics: Manufacturing

December 18, 2017

5 Ways to Reduce Your Manufacturing Inventory Costs

Do you have a CFO breathing down your neck to reduce manufacturing inventory costs? As the VP of Manufacturing, you have one tough job! 

Topics: Manufacturing

December 11, 2017

Better, Faster, Cheaper ERP for Manufacturers

I’m sure you’ve seen that old saying about services. There are only 3 types of services: good, cheap and fast – and you can only pick two:

Topics: Manufacturing

December 08, 2017

The Top 5 Automotive Trends for 2018

Big changes coming in 2018! Changes in consumer demand are trickling down to provide new opportunities for automotive suppliers. Some of the trends include:

Topics: Manufacturing

December 05, 2017

5 Myths Busted about ERP for Manufacturers

Manufacturing and ERP systems have had a rocky relationship, one filled with big promises, missed opportunities and lots of misinformation. Companies trying to leverage manufacturing technology for ...

Topics: Manufacturing

October 31, 2017

3 Ways Engineers are Staying on Top of Auto Regulations

Automotive engineers involved in the sales process have a responsibility to ensure that your automotive supply company stays on top of the latest regulations. Changes in regulations often drive ...

Topics: Manufacturing

October 20, 2017

Bridging the Gap: Current Processes & Future Models

When we work with clients to implement lean manufacturing principles, we typically use a software tool called LeanCONNECT (formerly called Areteium). With this tool, we can use existing manufacturing ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing

October 02, 2017

Increase Quality Without Increasing Production Cost

Razor thin margins leave little room for production errors. Because product recalls and customer refunds are so expensive, you want to be able to consistently deliver quality products, but without ...

Topics: Manufacturing

September 20, 2017

When Lean Manufacturing isn’t Worth the Effort

As a company who has been doing manufacturing ERP implementations and has been evangelizing lean manufacturing principles for a long time, we believe in lean principles, and believe they can be ...

Topics: CRM, ERP, Manufacturing

September 11, 2017

CFOs are demanding modern manufacturing technology

“How do you achieve better profit margins?” That’s the bottom line question for every CFO. Your job is to make sure there’s enough money in the bank to keep operations running smoothly, and to decide ...

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing

September 06, 2017

What is ManufacturingCONNECT Accelerator?

Since manufacturing enterprise management software (ERP) was first developed, a truth that “everyone knows” is that implementing new MRP / ERP software is a long, expensive and complicated process.

Topics: CRM, ERP, Manufacturing

September 01, 2017

5 Secrets to Improving Bid Responses for Auto Suppliers

Automotive supplier sales reps and engineers spend a lot of time responding to RFPs (Requests for Proposals). With so much time and energy going into formulating each response, what can you do to ...

Topics: Manufacturing

August 28, 2017

Life After Moving to a Modern ERP System

Anytime you switch out your ERP system, you can expect a certain amount of grumbling. Change doesn’t come easy to most people! But if you are moving off an older system that hasn’t been upgraded in a ...

Topics: Manufacturing

August 24, 2017

Starting your Lean Manufacturing Journey

Every journey begins with a first step. And the first step is deciding, “Where do I want to go?”

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing

August 01, 2017

The Fastest Way to “Go Live” on Dynamics 365!

A typical ERP implementation may take months, even years, to deploy. But Microsoft has made it possible for companies choosing Microsoft Dynamics 365 to go live in just weeks!

Topics: ERP, Manufacturing

June 15, 2017

Auto Manufacturers are Bucking the Profit Erosion Trend

Are your profits eroding slowly over time?  For automotive suppliers and other manufacturers who sell to giant corporations, profit erosion is a common problem. There’s no one big issue that can get ...

Topics: Manufacturing

June 02, 2017

Still running MAPICS?

Make the move to Microsoft Dynamics 365

Topics: Manufacturing

May 12, 2017

Auto ERP System Is Keeping You From Increasing Revenue

Automotive suppliers who manufacture and sell their products to large automobile manufacturers can sometimes feel squeezed. Automobile manufacturers can be demanding clients – they can request lots ...

Topics: Manufacturing

April 27, 2017

How to Shorten the Bid Process and Close Deals Faster

As a company that frequently works with automotive supply manufacturers to implement technology systems, we find that while some companies have mastered the manufacturing production process, very few ...

Topics: Manufacturing

April 13, 2017

Auto Supplier CEOs Use Tech as a Competitive Advantage

The best CEOs have a firm grasp of the big picture and understand enough of the details to know how to adjust course to meet the company’s goals. Your success as a CEO largely depends on your ability ...

Topics: CRM, Manufacturing

March 22, 2017

Every Automotive Supply Should Be Doing these in 2017

Most of the automotive parts manufacturers we work with have a pretty efficient shop floor.  Lean manufacturing has its roots in the automotive industry and most OEMs and parts suppliers have been ...

Topics: Manufacturing

March 01, 2017

6 Ways Manufacturers Can Improve Business Agility

Business agility is the name of the manufacturing game! How do you keep agile so you can capitalize on opportunities, while making sure you have enough finished product to meet demand? Here are 6 ...

Topics: Manufacturing

March 01, 2017

Is your biggest manufacturing constraint your ERP system?

Recognizing and overcoming manufacturing constraints is one of the main jobs of running any manufacturing operation. You have your standard:

Topics: Manufacturing

March 01, 2017

5 Costly Manufacturing KPI Mistakes CFOs Make

Being a numbers-driven manufacturing CFO is a good thing – in fact, it’s essential. But as a CFO, you probably know finance and operations more than you know the ins-and-outs of manufacturing, which ...

Topics: Manufacturing

January 24, 2017

HBD Manufacturing with MCA Connect & Microsoft

HBD Industries Selects Microsoft Dynamics 365 and MCA Connect to Enable World-Class Manufacturing Operations

Topics: Manufacturing

January 24, 2017

Value Stream Mapping: Do your materials move by magic?

Does your lean manufacturing value stream map include movement of materials between processes?

Topics: Manufacturing

September 28, 2016

Lean Production Scheduling in Dynamics 365

Let’s look in some detail at production scheduling for lean manufacturing in Dynamics AX.  If you haven’t read my blog series on production scheduling supporting lean principles, I encourage you to ...

Topics: Manufacturing, ERP

August 31, 2016

Production Scheduling – Level the Volume

This post is part of our series discussing the 7 lean manufacturing guidelines. In this post we’ll discuss supermarkets as a way to design a lean future state.

Topics: Manufacturing

August 19, 2016

Production Scheduling – Level the Mix

This post is part of our series discussing the 7 lean manufacturing guidelines. In this post we’ll discuss supermarkets as a way to design a lean future state.

Topics: Manufacturing

August 02, 2016

Production Scheduling – Schedule at One Point

This post is part of our series discussing the 7 lean manufacturing guidelines. In this post we’ll discuss supermarkets as a way to design a lean future state.

Topics: Manufacturing, ERP

July 26, 2016

Production Scheduling – Supermarkets and Pull

This post is part of our series discussing the 7 lean manufacturing guidelines. In this post we’ll discuss supermarkets as a way to design a lean future state.

Topics: Manufacturing

July 26, 2016

5 Ways Manufacturers Can Increase Customer Loyalty

Most manufacturers and distributors don’t place enough focus on driving customer loyalty. Sure, if you are a manufacturer, you want repeat business, but where customers get the most frustrated is the ...

Topics: Manufacturing

July 15, 2016

Manufacturing Re-Imagined

How can manufacturing ERP systems and related technologies solve manufacturing challenges using new approaches? That was the question our manufacturing experts answered at “Manufacturing ...

Topics: Manufacturing, ERP

July 14, 2016

Production Scheduling – Building to Takt

This is the second post in our series discussing the 7 lean manufacturing guidelines. The first guideline is to design a lean future state by producing to your takt time.

Topics: Manufacturing

July 12, 2016

Production Scheduling – 7 Lean Principles

The other day I came across an early version of the Lean Enterprise Institute’s “Learning to See” workshop from 1999. The workshop listed seven guidelines for the design of a future state value ...

Topics: Manufacturing

July 06, 2016

Manufacturing Feeling Squeezed?

Why is it that every time I am out with customers I end up with something new to blog about? Probably because I am insanely curious about each customer as I look to creatively help them to improve ...

Topics: Manufacturing

March 30, 2016

Configurators: NPI Every Time All the Time

Maybe it’s because we specialize in high mix manufacturing or maybe there are just more of them out there, but we are increasingly working with companies with highly configurable products who want to ...

Topics: Manufacturing

February 19, 2016

Kanban Cards or MRP?

OK so the title of this article was incendiary and just a ploy to get you here. Sorry. Instead of another vitriolic diatribe on the glories of kanban over MRP I want to look at a very specific ...

Topics: Manufacturing

September 04, 2015

Using an LTS to Sustain Lean Manufacturing Benefits

What’s an LTS? It’s the acronym for Lean Transformation Software. While LTS is not as well-known as other acronyms in our industry like ERP, CRM, MRP, PowerBI, etc – it should be – because LTS ...

Topics: Manufacturing, ERP

September 01, 2015

MCA Connect is 2015 Microsoft AX Manufacturing Partner

DENVER, CO Sept 1, 2015 Last month, Microsoft proudly announced the United States Microsoft Dynamics Partner Award winners during the US Microsoft Dynamics Annual Conference. “The  US Partner Awards ...

Topics: Manufacturing

October 24, 2014

AXUG and Beyond with Technology for Lean

Last week’s AXUG Summit in St. Louis was a great opportunity to check in on the state of lean in the Dynamics AX community and beyond. Some perspectives: Manufacturers with lots of variation and ...
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