Software Delivery: ERP SaaS May Finally Be Ready for Prime Time

Manufacturers also balked at the abridged versions of ERP applications available via SaaS, as software vendors decided to offer only the modules they believed were of greatest interest to SMBs. "Glovia and Plexus are both full-function ERP, but do they have every last module and feature of an SAP? No," Jutras says. However, she says, reduced features also decrease the complexity of applications that some companies find unwieldy.

Others argue that SaaS offers greater flexibility than packaged applications for SMBs that want to establish links to global suppliers. "We have supply chain capabilities in our product and a multi-language interface into the database, so a Chinese supplier can enter data in Chinese while an American customer is looking at the same information with an English interface," says Mark Symonds, CEO of Plexus. "All the Chinese supplier needs is a Web connection to be able to get to the application."

Manufacturers that are happy with their on-premises ERP system can extend its capabilities by adding shop-floor components and other modules using a hybrid SaaS approach, he adds. "We use XML to transfer data [between the two systems]. It's real- time, lightweight, and it's becoming the industry standard," Symonds says. Plexus can exchange data in batches at pre-set times if the legacy application doesn't support XML, he adds.

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SaaS will reduce the USA Trade Deficit with China

I came across this radical, but interesting article covering SaaS today. It’s about what the effects could possibly be on the economy with the adoption of Software as a Service (SaaS). It has nothing to do with Plexus Online. I’m going to continue to share interesting industry information with you.

That leads into starting a new Label with this one being the first entry in “SaaS fun to share”. There are a few other SaaS articles that have graced this blog, with the blog now being dedicated to Plexus, they will be filed into the new label “SaaS fun to share” when I get the chance.

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This article discusses how the software-as-a-service model with solutions such as Netsuite, Salesboom.com, etc can reduce the USA trade deficit with China by redocing the numbers of servers and hardwre equipment used which is imported from China

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Blog dedicated to Plexus Online™ Manufacturing Software.

July Recap – Blog dedicated to Plexus Online™ Manufacturing Software.

"D'oh!" Missed the April, May, June recap.

Since starting this blog in April, I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with it. I’m now on my way to knowing what it’s about: Plexus Systems, http://www.plex.com/, Plexus Online™ , the employees at Plexus and the occasional thing that I find interesting.

With the blog subject determination behind me, it’s time to work on establishing a reader base. As you can see above, I didn’t start tracking it until last month, but my blog is now taking its first baby steps out into the World Wide Web.

Yes, success is a fickle creature, not only in blogging but in the manufacturing software world, where underdogs can sometimes topple titans and groundbreaking emerging technologies can change the face of an industry. For those who follow or work in the Plexus Online™ universe, there's never a dull moment.

Because of the economic shift in the manufacturing industry, the emergence of new software is vital for businesses to stay competitive, meet their customer demands, adjust to market shifts and to keep business processes efficient to gain better profit margins. I’ll dedicate this blog to showing you how Plexus Online™ is the on-demand manufacturing software system that will enable you to not only keep up with the demands and shifts in the manufacturing industry, but to excel.

A Honda that will get 62.8 MPG and is not a hybrid!

Feast your eyes on this, car technology and high-mileage nuts. It's a Honda Accord that runs on diesel. It gets 62.8 miles a gallon on the highway, but otherwise looks and feels like a regular Accord.

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Who or What is Performance Systems International

Why are they going to so much trouble to have multiple IP's?

I’m not sure what I’m seeing. I've either gained a very avid fan or I’m spotting a very odd trend.

Los Angeles, California, US
38.98.19.68
Bookmark or direct
1 Performance Systems International
Los Angeles, California, US
38.98.19.66
Bookmark or direct
1 Performance Systems International
Los Angeles, California, US
38.98.19.111
Bookmark or direct
1 Performance Systems International
Los Angeles, California, US
38.98.19.113
Bookmark or direct
1 Performance Systems International
Los Angeles, California, US
38.98.19.67
Bookmark or direct
1 Performance Systems International
Washington, District of Columbia, US
cmcturbo.net 38.102.12.190
www.bloglines.com/myblogs_...
1 Performance Systems International
Los Angeles, California, US
38.98.19.112
Bookmark or direct
1 Performance Systems International
Los Angeles, California, US
38.98.19.114
Bookmark or direct
1 Performance Systems International
San Francisco, California, US
38.114.145.145
www.google.com/search?sour... Search: netsuite
1 Performance Systems International
Washington, District of Columbia, US
38.98.135.210
Bookmark or direct
1 Performance Systems International
Washington, District of Columbia, US
38.97.94.83
www.detroitchamber.com/det...
1 Performance Systems International
Washington, District of Columbia, US
cogentco.com 38.99.199.142
www.managingautomation.com...
1 Performance Systems International
Detroit, Michigan, US
38.196.106.2
www.automationalley.com/au...
1 Performance Systems International

Plexus sponsors prosthetic games

The Auburn Hills-based manufacturing technology developer Plexus Systems Inc. said last week it is collaborating with Fraser-based College Park Industries to produce prosthetics for lower limb amputees of all ages and all activity levels, including those who want to maintain high activity levels, such as extreme sports.

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Plexus Online Customer Testimonial

Plexus Online combines the capabilities of enterprise resource planning (ERP), manufacturing execution systems (MES), quality management, customer relationship management (CRM), shop floor integration, supply chain management (SCM) and much more. With the ability to manage a single facility or a global enterprise, Plexus Online utilizes lean principles to enable manufacturers to closely track and manage critical aspects of their operation, anywhere, anytime.

Industry Report Plexus Systems, An episode of PodcasterNews

Plexus Online , the first true on-demand manufacturing performance system. It delivers a powerful, real time interface to the total manufacturing process. With the ability to manage a single facility or an entire enterprise, Plexus Online allows manufacturers to closely track critical aspects of their...

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Plexus Systems, Inc. Sponsors Chairman's Theme Dinner

“Thriving in a World of Change,” an exciting program of assembly sessions and roundtables are featured, along with updates about how PMA is changing the way Washington, D.C., views the issues critical to our survival as manufacturers. We are proud to host two well-known and respected speakers, Dr. Jeffrey Liker, author of The Toyota Way,...

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10 Critical Questions to Ask a Manufacturing ERP Vendor

Plexus Systems suggests that many manufacturers are focusing on the wrong issues when considering ERP solutions. The ERP industry has earned such a poor reputation for delivery in the last 20 years that users has learned to live within a very narrow set of constraints – and those constraints have been in place for so long that the questions we...

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ERP Selection - Plexus Online Customer Feedback

I do have an infrastructure team as well. Our primary focus is on network (includig significant redundancy to the internet), file/print/e-mail, desktop mgmt, barcode and rf scanning hardware, telecommunications, plus the other apps we run in-house (payroll, fixed assets, sharepoint, pdm). I am fully aware of other smaller Plexus customers who...

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Plexus Online Customer Feedback

Certainly. We are an automotive supplier. The largest of our family of companies focuses on steel components processed via stamping (including multi-out and multiple set dies), welding, rollforming, powder coating and e-coating. Our other US companies are plastic injection molding (split between large presses and smaller presses, including...

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Plexus Online Customer Feedback on ITtoolbox

Plexus is a full ERP/MES/CRM/SCM package. Yes, there's lot traceability as well as long term forecasting (whether sales based, quantity based, MRP based, or capacity planning). It replaced many integrated systems in our environment and consolidated us down to very few. The only business applications outside of Plexus for us are payroll, fixed...

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SAP chairman backpedals on SaaS threat

Delivering software over the Internet presents a critical challenge to traditional software business models, SAP chairman Hasso Plattner said in a speech last week. But that challenge to SAP won't come from the company's own A1S project, he hastily added in a press statement later.

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Plexus Looking to Hire: Web Application Developer

Plexus Systems is in search of a highly-motivated, highly-capable, and enthusiastic Web Application Developer. Candidate will become a key technical contributor to the core functionality of Plexus Online, our software solution for manufacturing companies.

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Software as a Service Continues its High Growth Trajectory in Asia

This one arrived in my email. It was sent by: Bhoorender Panwar, it's interesting to see the global effect of Software as a Service (SaaS) growth. You can learn more about Springboard Research at: http://www.springboardresearch.com/

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Market Expected to Grow 83% in 2007 as Awareness and Adoption Rates Increase Significantly

Singapore – July 23, 2007 – Springboard Research, a leading innovator in the IT Market Research industry, today announced the results of its latest research on the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market in Asia (excluding Japan). Springboard’s data shows significant growth in awareness and adoption of SaaS across the region with the market increasing 92.5% in 2006 to reach a market size of US$154 million. Springboard forecasts that the SaaS market in Asia will reach US$1.16 billion by 2010, with a compound annual growth rate of 66%, to comprise 15% of the enterprise software application market.

Springboard recorded a substantial increase in SaaS awareness in the last year, with awareness among those surveyed (385 organizations) increasing from 41% in 2006, to 75% in 2007. This increase in awareness also led to a rise in adoption, with 46% of those enterprises surveyed replying that they were using some form of SaaS in their organizations (compared to 29% in 2006). Springboard also observed that the primary reason for adoption shifted from price to other factors that included ease of use, ease of implementation, and lower maintenance.

“We saw significant increases across the board for SaaS through our research, which proves that SaaS has market momentum for the long run,” said Dane Anderson, CEO & Executive Vice President for Research at Springboard Research. “It is a very dynamic time for SaaS in Asia with pure-play vendors like Salesforce.com, Netsuite, and WebEx gaining increased traction in Asia, together with smaller SaaS firms making moves into the region. Round that out with the large players in the industry like SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft becoming more aggressive with SaaS, and the market for the rest of 2007 and 2008 is going to be very interesting,” Anderson added.

Springboard found that although customer relationship management (CRM) remains the largest SaaS application segment by revenue in Asia, representing 45% of total SaaS revenue in 2006, data shows that organizations are aware of and use many different types of SaaS applications. Springboard also found satisfaction levels with SaaS applications ran very high, with all application segments scoring between a 7 to 8 on a 10-point scale.

“SaaS is definitely going beyond CRM, which is the area it has been associated with in the past,” said Ravi Shekhar Pandey, Research Manager for Springboard Research. “With all segments of SaaS growing, we are seeing applications across the board being adopted by enterprises in the region and more importantly, we are seeing enterprises being very happy with the SaaS applications they are using. This bodes well for the market, not only the small to medium businesses that have been the mainstay for SaaS vendors, but also those large enterprises looking at SaaS for non-critical applications;” added Pandey.

Springboard also saw the competitive landscape in Asia Pacific is beginning to change. Even though the regional SaaS market is still dominated by the top 5 vendors – Salesforce.com, WebEx, RightNow Technologies, Oracle and NetSuite – several other vendors, especially local players, are beginning to make their presence felt in the region. Vendors like Australia-based Saasu (accounting applications), Aussiepay (payroll application), Singapore-based JustLogin (collaboration), China-based 800CRM (CRM on-demand) and India-based Adrenalin eSystems (payroll/employee management) are gaining popularity in the local markets.

About This Study

The Springboard Research report, The Software-as-a-Service Market in Asia Pacific, 2006 to 2009: Expanding the Reach & Appeal of Software, examines key trends in the Asia Pacific enterprise Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) market. A key focus area of the report is the inclusion of an array of market data, including market size and growth forecasts, for key application segments of the enterprise SaaS market in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan). Through our survey of 385 CIOs and IT decision-makers at enterprises in Australia, China, India, New Zealand, and Singapore, we’ve assessed the level of SaaS awareness, adoption and usage in more depth. Our report also profiles leading the SaaS vendors in the region, their offerings and business strategies.

Plexus Systems Named to List of Fastest-Growing Companies by Crain’s

Plexus Systems recorded revenue of approximately $22 million for the calendar year 2006. The growth was driven by continued acceptance of the on-demand service model offered by Plexus, and a 100 percent retention rate among its existing customers. Plexus won new business in 2006 with companies headquartered in North America, Asia, and Europe.

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Plexus Named 9th Fastest Growing Company in Detroit Area

Plexus Systems, Inc. achieves 46.7% growth, named the 9 fastest growing company in the Detroit area, By % change in revenue, 2005-06 recognition given by Crain’s Detroit.

CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS
CRAIN'S LIST: FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES By % change in revenue, 2005-06

9. Plexus Systems Inc.
1731 Harmon Road, Auburn Hills 48326
(248) 391-8001; www.plex.com
Robert Beatty, chairman and
founder
46.7% $22.0 $15.0 On-demand performance
management software system for
manufacturing companies
Developed on-demand software for
manufacturing

Source: Crains Detroit

Salesforce CEO leads charge against software

And who else to lead the revolution than the garrulous Benioff? "A lot of the creativity that you've seen in the software industry has been driven directly and indirectly from what Marc has done at Salesforce," Chambers says in an e-mail.

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Plexus Online / Kettering University Co-Op student Tim McGookey recieves honor

Plexus Systems / Kettering University Co-Op student Tim McGookey (Application Developer on the Plexus Online SaaS ERP system) recieves honor. See below...
________________

CONGRATULATIONS! We are pleased to confirm that Tim McGookey, who was nominated by Plexus Systems, Inc. for membership into the Kettering University Professional Leadership Honor Society (PLHS), has been accepted for membership. Tim is invited to a welcome luncheon this Wednesday. First of September, he/she will be inducted into the organization at a private dinner ceremony which will be hosted by Dr. Stan Liberty, President of Kettering University, at his home.

We share your pride in Tim's accomplishments thus far and join you in anticipation as his/her exemplary performance will grow into mature professionalism. We know a large part of Tim's professional development has been a direct result of the time and effort you have invested in his/her academic progress and the confidence you have shown in his/her ability. On behalf of the University, Dr. Liberty, the faculty and staff and all our students we thank you for your continued support and active participation in our co-op program.

Sincerely,
Caron Wilson and Darren Heartwell
PLHS Advisors
Kettering University

More about the Professional Leadership Honor Society at Kettering University. - This organization is comprised of upperclassmen who have demonstrated leadership potential as evaluated by the management of their co-op employer. All members are appointed for one academic year. Activities consist of lunch and dinner meetings each year. Speakers are leading executives in industry and business. Members are given an opportunity to ask questions of these top executives and become acquainted with their ideas, backgrounds, and managerial philosophies.

Jerry Foster to speak at 2007 PASS Community Summit on SQL Server

2007 PASS Community Summit on SQL Server

Plexus Online ERP's - Jerry Foster is one of the founders and Chief Technical Officer of Plexus Systems, where he has been the development and technical lead for over 16 years. Plexus's premier product, Plexus Online, is the first and only fully integrated, on-demand manufacturing software hosted completely over the internet.

Jerry has transitioned the development department through each phase of Plexus Online, starting with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, 2000, and now 2005. While at Plexus, Jerry has been responsible for maintaining and improving performance of this highly transactional combination OLTP/OLAP system.

Julie Rogier honored for Plexus Systems 2006 Media Relations

Rochester Hills resident Julie Rogier of Markit Strategies and PR, LLC, is part of the team that recently received the Renaissance Award of Merit from the Detroit Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. IABC honored the team for the Plexus Systems 2006 Business-to-Business Media Relations Campaign at the annual awards pr

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Kim Hayward named Top Wiki Contributor of the week at ITtoolbox!

I'm someone who tends to open most of my email if the url resembles anything that looks familer to me. Tonight I opened what I thought was a typical spam email, to find a nice surpise. See below....
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Hi khay, (the user id = Kim Hayward)

As a top contributor for the past week at ITtoolbox Wiki, your article,"Plexus Online", was promoted in the ERP-Decision-Makers newsletter onTuesday.

ERP-Decision-Makers newsletter can be viewed (The link will expire after four days.) Please feel free to contact me directly with questions or suggestions about ITtoolbox Wiki. I hope you continue to find value in this knowledge sharing community.

Best regards,SonjaSonja Soderberg ITtoolbox Wiki Helper ITtoolbox "Professional IT Community" SonjaSoderberg@ITtoolbox.com My profile: http://www.ittoolbox.com/profiles/ssoderberg

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Decision Maker Wiki
Recent Wiki Contributions Plexus Online
One crusader in the ERP market has been Plexus Systems, whose Plexus Online ERP offering is now being accessed by some 30,000 registered users across roughly 1,200 plants. The Plexus SaaS offering encompasses such ERP functions as accounting, inventory, costing, and CRM, but... More...Last modified by khay , member since 2/8/2003

Top
Wiki Top Contributor: khay Created: Plexus Online Contents: "One crusader in the ERP market has been Plexus Systems, whose Plexus Online ERP offering is now being accessed by some 30,000 registered users..."...Continued at ITtoolbox Wiki.

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This Wiki honor email made me head over to the ITtoolbox site to take a look around, below you'll see what I think is the very first post ever made by me on the ITtoolbox site , wow 2001. I must have stayed away for a couple of years moved url's from www.plex-sys.com to http://www.plex.com/ and forgot my password.

Take a look at this ITtoolbox post below you can clearly see some of the same advice is relevant to the Software as a Service industry as it was to the ASP delivery model. Has it really taken 6 years for the rest of the software world to catch on to this line of thought?

Reply from Kim Hayward on 5/31/2001 12:05:00 AM
ITtoolbox Portal for ERP - http://ERP.ITtoolbox.com

Steve,

I would also recommend including not only ERP, but search for a ERP supplied by an ASP (Application Service Provider)in your study.

Although ASP and its Web-based technology is new, the basic concept of outsourcing is not. Companies like ADP (Automatic Payroll Processing) have been outsourcing payroll services for years. In a way, ASP shares some similarities with the old days when we used to timeshare on mainframes. Even so, the idea of hosting critical databases offsite will worry some management teams, especially those that aren't keen on outsourcing. But ASP's invest millions of dollars in hardware, software, infrastructure, and IT staff; something many manufacturing companies can't afford to do. ASP's put in redundant connections, security firewalls, and many other measures to make sure their systems are protected and always available.

Many experts believe that because of its centralization scheme and economies of scale, ASP's will be able to deliver information systems that are more secure, more reliable, and more effective than traditional internal systems.

In the late 1800's when electricity was first invented, only the rich could afford it. They would hire an electrical engineer to setup a generator in the backyard, and then retain that costly engineer to nurse along the hand-built system. Today, we simply plug in to a wall outlet. We don't have a generator in the backyard and we don't even think about the power plant from which our electricity comes. Yes, occasionally we lose electrical power, but far less than back in the old days when it was a hand-built local generator. The risk of occasional power outages doesn't stop us from using electricity. In the future, or perhaps now, information services will be provided and paid for as a basic utility. Think of it as an information system on tap. If the need for a new or upgraded software package is on your company's horizon, the ASP approach warrants consideration. It's important to select an ASP that makes sense for your situation.

Here are several factors to consider: The most important factor in selecting an ASP is the quality and capability of their software. Whether its delivered via a T1 circuit or hosted locally doesn't change whether the software fits your needs and helps you improve your operation.

Beware: many ASP's simply rehash their existing software, or purchase someone else's standard package, then pipe it to you. Make sure the ASP is reputable, trustworthy, and responsive to its customer's needs. You can�t ascertain that from a brochure. Ask for a customer list and call as many as you can. Talk to them. Listen to their stories. You'll soon determine whether this is the right ASP for you. If an ASP can't provide a customer list, then don't bother. Finally, make sure the ASP has experience in your field. There are all sorts of ASP's, offering a vast range of different services, and the number is growing exponentially. A company that sells retail systems, Internet services, or just hosts your hardware probably won't have the background necessary to fulfill your company's needs.

Kim Hayward Plexus Systems

Is Software-as-a-Service for You?

Cognos's move into the so-called SaaS market follows the lead of other software vendors that have opted for one or more of these new delivery ideas. Such companies as NetSuite, Microsoft, Plexus, Oracle, and SAP, among others, all offer these various delivery options today for their applications.

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The Quality Planning Process

This flowchart represents the quality planning process. Each step in the process corresponds to a module in Plexus Online.

To learn more about the Plexus Online integration between the Process Flow Chart, Control Plan, and FMEA modules visit the Plexus Online Quality Management page.

SaaS gains industry cred

Discusses how Salesforce.com and Google (due to the recent acquisition of Postini) are poised to lead the SaaS industry.

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Larry Ellison's NetSuite Has No Separate Backup Center

The S-1 filing on the eve of its IPO shows the Emperor has no clothes. The worst part is that other companies are also lacking an off-site backup center.

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Netsuite IPO Shows SaaS's Strength

The software-as-a-service market continues to show strength with yet another initial public stock offering, this time by NetSuite.

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Plexus Information Technology Services Data

At Plexus, we constantly strive for a 100% satisfied customer installed base. This is something that is taken very seriously at Plexus. We treat our customers more like partners and feel that together we can achieve greater results. To achieve this goal we are constantly looking for ways to provide more benefit or value to our existing customers. One of the ways we have found to do this is by providing Information Technology (IT) Services. These services are offered at a standard monthly rate, an affordable time and materials hourly rate, or quoted for a specific project or engagement.

Key Benefits

IT Staff Augmentation. The Plexus IT Services group can be an on-demand extension of your current IT staff when you need it.

Reduce Operating Costs. No need to hire additional specialized IT staff or spend money training current staff for a seldom used specific skill set.

Optimum Utilization of Plexus Online. Ensure you are using the best combination of equipment and integration possible when your hardware provider is same as your software provider.

Eliminate Expensive Support Contracts. You can choose to use Plexus IT Services on an affordable hourly basis and avoid any long term commitment.

• Wide Area Network (WAN) circuit migration, administration & support.
• Real Time WAN circuit monitoring & troubleshooting.
• Windows Active Directory domain design, migration & administration.
• Data Center migration and administration assistance.
• Microsoft Exchange E-mail hosting & administration, either utilizing a full Outlook or Plexus Online integrated OWA client.
• SPAM filtering for incoming e-mail.
• Setup and administration of Pocket PC & Palm type devices.
• IT Project Management services.
• End user IT Helpdesk support at any desired level.
• Sales, support & service of bar-coding equipment.
• Local Area Network (LAN) design, configuration & administration.
• Customer remote access (VPN) configuration assistance.
• Hosted Desktop services allow Plexus to host end user desktop applications via Citrix from your own WAN or the internet.
• Internet access and browsing available to customers that are using Plexus Online and have connections direct to Plexus.
• Barcode equipment programming, configuration, and administration.
• Server backup configuration and administration for customer servers and data.
• Customer desktop hardware and software support.
• Systems security evaluation and recommendations.
• Customer owned server configuration and administration.
• IT infrastructure evaluation and planning assistance.
• Sales, configuration, support of PCs and peripheral equipment.
• Intranet or Internet website hosting.

Barrie Vince to be honored with AIAG's Outstanding Achievement Award

Register now to support and honor your fellow members and volunteers during the 21st annual AIAG Outstanding Achievement Award Ceremony on August 20, 2007 at The Henry Ford Museum.

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS :
Barrie Vince
Plexus Systems, Inc.

John Bair
Eaton Corporation

Michael Comerford
Global Commerce Systems, Inc.

Scott Fitzpatrick
IQS

Mary Fleury
Ford Motor Company

Joe Fortuna, M.D.
Delphi Corporation

Ross Good
Chrysler Group

Marianne Grant
Snap-On Business Solutions

Aidan Hughes
Gates Corporation

Nenad Ivezic
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Polly E. James
General Motors Corporation

Patrick F. King, Ph.D.
Michelin Americas Research & Development Corp.

Kate A. Kohn-Parrott
Chrysler Group

Boonserm (Serm) Kulvatunyou
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gabrielle A. Lucci
Ford Motor Company

Drexel Matthews
Cummins, Inc.

Terry Onica
QAD Inc.

Barrie Vince
Plexus Systems, Inc.

Faisal Waris
Synova (on behalf of Ford Motor Company)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Henry Gryn
DaimlerChrysler Corporation

Donald J. Myers
Haldex Brake Products Corporation

CORPORATE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS Delphi Corporation
A new honor is being presented this year to an AIAG staff member who has shown outstanding dedication, commitment and excellence. The first-ever Charles "Chuck" Koehn Award, named after a founder and driving force of AIAG, will be presented to Marilyn Sherry.

Register online at AIAG or call (248) 358-3003.

2007 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100

Adaptable. Agile. Customer-focused. Global. Scalable. A modern supply chain must have all these characteristics (and more) as the "push" economy of yesterday gives way to the 21st century's demand-driven "pull" economy. To compete successfully in this new reality, enterprises of all sizes are turning to technology and service providers to help them enable their "21st century supply chains."

Supply Chain Infrastructure & Integration/ERP

Leverage solution capabilities beyond immediate needs: TOMASCO mulciber INC. used an Internet-based system from Plexus Systems to meet its OEM customer's requirements for EDI, but the company leveraged additional capabilities to gain greater shop floor control, traceability, quality management and accounting. Results: Met customer's requirements and ISO certification, inventory reduced over 20 percent, WIP reduced over 40 percent. Plexus Systems, Inc. (1995; Auburn Hills, MI; http://www.plex.com/)

A mention of this award has been spoted on this website.

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Plexus Systems, Inc. Sponsors O&P Extremity Games

“Plexus Systems is proud to sponsor this extreme amateur sporting competition, which showcases the abilities of athletes living with limb loss or limb difference,” said Mark Symonds, CEO Plexus Systems, Inc. “We’re very excited to have been given this chance by College Park Industries to associate with such an inspiring event.”

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Excitement at Plexus Systems, Inc.!

Tomorrow Supply and Demand Chain Executive Magazine, the executive's user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, will announce the Sixth-annual listing of the Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 in its June/July 2007 issue.

Jim Happell (above) and Scott Fleck are headed off to Florida to help out at the O & P Extremity Games. The second annual sports competition helps raise awareness of the ability of amputees.

A internal Plexus Online naming contest with a prize was started yesterday. Rob Beatty is looking for ideas, input, and brainstorming on a marketing name for the Rendering Engine. The RE is a platform, development environment, user configuration environment and so on. From the user's point of view, it's most visible capability is that we and they can visually configure screens. A sexy name is needed. If your name is chosen, then you'll get a prize. Ohhh, everyone LOVES prizes! Especially the employees at Plexus, the Plexus prizes are always’ fun to win.

The Squidoo page has shown up in the Google search engine and it’s ranking on Squidoo has passed one of the other big players in the ERP market. That is well on its way to achieving the intended purpose.

Plexus Online Software Coverage Chart

Note: I have nothing new and fun to say today. I'll leave you with a Plexus Online Software Coverage Chart to ponder. If you would like to click into the chart and learn more about these modules visit the Plexus Online web site.

I guess we had better get that awesome Plexus Online marketing team moving!

Plexus 2007 Company Picnic

The 2007 Plexus picnic was great fun. The only question that remains: DOES ONE STILL HAVE A JOB, if you block the CEO’s (Mark Symonds) spike, when playing volleyball? Sorry Mark, but it does give me bragging rights. :)

Perfect weather, great food, good prizes and a lot of family fun. It was nice to see all of the “growing” Plexus families out and enjoying the picnic together. Wow, has this company grown.

The Chief Engineer, Jerry Foster and his wife Angie won the three legged race. I’m sure this win is going to cause a new Plexus policy to be invoked. It’s going to read something like this: "If you don’t finish the race with all of the clothing you started with you’re disqualified."

I’ve never seen an egg tossed as far as they were being tossed today! Congratulations to the winners, JR Kirk and Dan VanBrocklin! Plexus is one competitive company one can even see the competitive drive in an egg toss! There were at least a dozen teams left when the distance had grown at least thirty feet. The eggs were flying.

There were many painted faces running around the park, thanks to Brittany Hayward. Good luck to all of you parents. I’m thinking we should start a contest to see which child will go the longest before they will allow their face painting to be washed away. Photos can be found here. (hit refresh if they don't start)

The event was topped off with what I’m going to call a rigged up Sponge Bob piñata, every kid in the place took three swings at the thing. Some were very determined swings, bats were just a flying. Nothing gave way, that’s not quite true, his arms, hands legs and decorations went flying. The lucky swingers got to keep Sponge Bob’s body parts, that is, if their swing caused the amputation.

Once it was proven no child was going to crack that piñata, the Plexus Online employees were given a swing at him, Mike Hart, Alison Hess and many others failed. That piñata was just not going to give up the goods. Leave it to one of the new guy’s on the Plexus implementation team, Daniel Czaja, he came at the beaten Sponge Bob piñata with the hammer from a smaller version of the old-fashioned "ring-the-bell" carnival midway game. That worked and the kids swarmed and quickly collected the goods.

A big thank you, to everyone involved for making the 2007 Plexus Company picnic a great success! My family had a great time.

Plexus Systems CARNIVAL PICNIC

I’m heading out today to the Plexus Systems CARNIVAL PICNIC!!

Prizes! Games! Great Food,
Fun & Friends!

Moonwalk
Carnival Games
Face Painting
Snow Cones
Volleyball
Horse Shoes
Swimming
3-Legged Race
Egg Toss & More!

Sunday, July 15, 2007
1-5 p.m.
Independence Oaks Park

Microsoft Plays SAAS Catch-Up

Microsoft might be late to the game with a software-as-a-service offering for business applications, but it's working to lay the foundation for service-enabled applications with its Dynamics application architecture, according to industry insiders.

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Production Scheduling with Plexus Online

Scheduling is one of the most difficult challenges a manufacturing company faces, and Plexus Online meets that challenge. There is no single answer, so Plexus provides several options, including a manual Production Sequence Board, automatic Restock Analysis calculations, Production Requirements Planning, Electronic Pull Systems, Kanban, and visual Finite Scheduling.

We apply these methods in combination as warranted by the manufacturing process, the operational constraints, and the manufacturer’s scheduling vision.

AMR: SOA will kill ERP | Service-Oriented Architecture

A ZDNet.com Blog sees SOA, open source and on demand applications as the ERP killers by 2010. Let’s not give SOA all the credit for liberating our enterprises from the monoliths, however. There are other forces at work disrupting the ERP market as we now it. The growing volume of open source offerings in this space, such as Apache OFBiz, SugarCRM, Tiny ERP, and Compiere. Then there are the software-as-a-service offerings, from Salesforce.com for the CRM aspect to Plexus. (Oracle and SAP are already active in the hosted/SaaS space as well.) The Microsoft mass-market mid-market commodization threat also looms, via Dynamics GP/AX.

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Best Business Process Automation Solution

With the award for Best Business Process Automation Solution, Plexus Online is recognized for breaking through some of the assumed limitations of SaaS, and for delivery a full featured technology solution that automates processes, and improves all aspects of production and manufacturing operations.

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Plexus Online Manufacturing ERP Software

Now has a Squidoo Lens. Here are some useful links I've spotted with articles about Plexus Online Manufacturing ERP Software.

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The ERP in Manufacturing

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and their MRP (Material Requirements Planning) predecessors have been around for almost three decades now. As a result, many aging implementations, based on outdated technology, are limiting the business process evolution necessary to any company who wants to thrive and grow amidst the pressures of global

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NEVER SAY NEVER, NEVER SAY CAN'T

The O & P Extremity Games is an extreme amateur sporting competition for individuals living with limb loss or limb difference. The O & P Extremity Games allows participants to demonstrate skill, persistence and passion while competing for cash and other prizes - proving There's No Replacement for the Competitive Spirit.

In the truest partnership, Plexus Systems is a sponsor of the O & P Extremity Games, which was launched by College Park Industries to showcase patient success. The second annual sports competition helps raise awareness of the ability of amputees. It’s gives athletes -- aged 13 and older -- the opportunity to demonstrate skill, persistence and passion. The O & P Extremity Games hosts eight judged competitions: skateboarding, rock climbing, wakeboarding, BMX biking, kayaking, surfing, skydiving and in-line skating.

This year’s event takes place in Orlando, Florida from July 18 – 21, 2007. For more information about the competition, visit http://www.extremitygames.com/.

Time to show your numbers

If you do something well, and no one sees it, how does that help you? It may sound like a high school ethics question, but it's got plenty of real-world implications, meaning there are financial ramifications for forgers and other manufacturers. The goal of process improvement efforts has to be to demonstrate the scale and impact of those...

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Plexus Online Support

Many software companies don't like to talk about it. More than fifty-percent of all software projects end in failure: the software never achieves its Return on Investment (ROI), it's used in only a minimal fashion, and/or it's abandoned.

At Plexus, we are very proud of our track record:Plexus has a 100% implementation success rate.

Manufacturing is complex and demanding. We often have to work very hard to satisfy a customer's needs and provide the exact solution to achieve the best results. The difference between Plexus and our competitors is that we don't walk away. We put in the effort. And we always succeed. In the end, every system we've ever sold has been implemented successfully.

We would also like to point out that Plexus has never lost a customer. Every customer that has begun using Plexus Online, is still using Plexus Online today.Are we perfect? No. But we work very hard to provide as much value as we can to our customers. We stick with our customers. And our customers stick with us.

Plexus Online provides an extremely strong Shop Floor Control System (also known as Manufacturing Execution System (MES)). Many ERP software companies claim to support manufacturing companies, but they do little more than accounting, order entry, and other office tasks. They are not suitable for use on the shop floor and they provide little value to the manufacturing department. Many manufacturers indicate that traditional ERP software actually hinders manufacturing, rather than helps it.

Plexus grew up in the manufacturing industry and has always been, first and foremost, a manufacturing execution system. This is one of our primary focus areas and often noted as a major differentiator between us and our competitors

This may just be a test, only a test, a colorful test. I’m starting to see some very nice logo’s in Google reader. I’ve added the Plexus Online logo to this blog to see if I can get it to carry forward into the Google Reader. It would be nice to have some colorful images in the text articles, that are blogged here on SaaSy Software.

Machine Integration / SCADA Software

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) uses Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) to electronically control and monitor production machinery. Many manufacturing companies have installed a PLC on their production machines. But few have learned to take advantage of the raw data the PLC collects.

The Plexus PLC/Machine Integration, Settings/Recipes (SCADA) Module establishes an electronic linkage between the Plexus Online information and your production machines that allows you to finally take advantage of your PLC-equipped equipment.

Monitoring & Reporting: Production machines automatically report uptime, downtime, faults, production counts, and other critical events to Plexus. All machine status changes are recorded in Plexus Online’s detailed Workcenter Log, which drives downtime analysis reports, OEE, labor and production efficiency reports, and other subsystems. This increases accuracy of management reports at the same time it reduces dependency on human labor.
Plexus Online automatically gathers, collects and summarizes pertinent PLC data into useful management information. Plexus Online provides an array of powerful reports.

Controlling: Optionally, Plexus Online can be setup to not just monitor, but control the production machinery. For example, some of our customers configure Plexus Online to automatically pause the machine when the standard quantity has been produced into a bin (preventing non-standard pack sizes) or the job quantity has been fulfilled (preventing over production). Others configure Plexus such that it will not let the machine physically run unless an approved operator has logged in, the correct tools are installed in the machine, the correct raw materials are in place, and the proper quality inspections have been performed.

Plexus Online stores and organizes Machine Setup Recipes. A recipe is a collection of machine settings that will configure the machine to produce a specific part in the most efficient and repeatable fashion. Accessible from the Plexus Online Control Panel, this allows the operator to easily download a standard setup into the PLC at the beginning of a production run, thus auto-configuring the machine in a standard way each time for that specific part. This decreases setup time, reduces variation, improves quality, and increases production.

The Plexus Online Shop Screen Module provides a map-like pictorial view of the overall shop floor, depicting each production machine in a different color and animation depending on its current status. This is a useful communication tool for tooling and maintenance personnel to know what’s happening at all the machines. It also provides a useful supervisory tool for management. The Shop Screen concept is patented by Plexus Systems, LLC.

Reduction in Quality and Shipping Problems

“With the Plexus system, nothing can be shipped without being scanned. When each container is scanned, the information goes into computer to prepare a shipping label. If anyone accidentally grabs and scans the wrong box, an error message saying ‘Invalid Serial Number’ pops up on the screen. It’s almost impossible to ship the wrong parts.”

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Software M&A Annual Review 2006, and How To Maximize Your Company's Value

Overall deals were up 30% worldwide. Deal volume in software sectors increased by as much as 50%. And the M&A dollar volume approached 1999 levels. Think that buyers are smart enough to see the strengths of your company? Think your rapidly growing, highly profitable company will sell itself? That's what Rob Beatty of Plexus Systems thought.

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Visit to Shanty Creek Resort

It’s slightly unbelievable but we have started our 2008 Plexus Online User Conference planning. We are now working out the details on how we can make next year’s conference even better. Where will it be? What shall we do for entertainment? What do we think that you enjoyed the most? What do you want to learn more about? Should we charge you a nominal fee? What is important to you? What do you want out of the Plexus Online conference?

The first test run for a 2008 location for the Plexus Online user conference starts today. We (Alison Hess, Mike Alcorn & Myself) are taking a trip north to take a look at the Shanty Creek Resort.

Their online ad tells us that it’s a location that holds a possible fit… This Northern Michigan golf resort offers state-of-the-art meeting facilities coupled with inspiring views from every window, creating an environment conducive to maximum productivity, the perfect venue to mix business and pleasure. Invite your guests to experience the unrivaled beauty and excitement of our mountain retreat by hosting your next corporate event at Shanty Creek Resorts.

While we are at Shanty Creek here are some of the things they have planned for us to do during the visit. Meeting with Therese, Scott Mason - VP of Operations/ Transportation & Tom McPherson - AV Director.

In the afternoon we will tour Summit Village where our main conference and the majority of guest rooms would be. Then we'll go to Cedar River where additional guest rooms would be located. (I’m not sure I like the idea of splitting people up) Therese has invited everyone, family included, to dinner on Friday night in the Lakeview Dining room.

We are on our own Saturday. Besides the events listed below we can play golf, go to the spa, kayaking, geo- caching, mountain biking (byob).
We’ll it sounds like there is a need to test out the spa and Geo-Caching for sure. Then how will we ever fit in everything else that is happening at Shanty Creek.

July 7, 2007

• Attend our Fourth of July Festival at Schuss Village outside of Ivan’s – 1pm to 11pm
• Play our Inflatable Games (Bungee Run, Velcro Wall, Obstacle Course, Giant Slide) $2 per ride – 1pm to 9pm
• Bring the kids and have fun with our Family Lawn Games – 1pm to 9pm
  Savor delicious grilled items at our Outdoor BBQ – 1pm to 9pm.
• Admire the picturesque countryside on our Chair Lift Rides, $2 per ride – 5pm to 9pm
• Dance to the sounds of a Bluegrass Band – 5pm to 8pm
  Watch our Dueling Pianos at Ivan’s – 8:30pm to 11:30pm with a break during fireworks
• Fireworks display at dusk
  Sunday 7/8/07

Therese would like to meet with the three of us for breakfast for a wrap-up meeting. She promised it wouldn't be too early!

Sap eats some Oracle Crow

In a dramatic turnabout, officials at software giant SAP admitted what bitter rival Oracle had claimed in a lawsuit: that one of SAP's subsidiaries had inappropriately downloaded some Oracle files.

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SaaS model puts fear into the traditional software market

I think the model has put fear into those accustomed to traditional implemenations. (Funny thing is...most of us are pretty clear on the success rates of traditional implementations).

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Plexus Online EDI and Bar Coding solution was approved by Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc.

Honda Motor Company approved the Plexus Online ERP solution for EDI and bar code labelling. The company put the software through many rigorous tests to ensure compliance with Honda's strict standards. Plexus also supports many other trading partners in the automotive, heavy truck and other industries.

Plexus Online has been designed and built with the goal of helping suppliers do business with Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. As a company, Plexus has made it one of our strategic objectives to be the system of choice for Honda suppliers.

In 2003, the Plexus Online EDI and Bar Coding solution was approved by Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. as meeting its EDI & Bar Code Label Implementation Requirements. This approval includes Honda's Star, Delta, and GPCS systems.

Plexus continues to work closely with Honda to make sure our software is always up to date with Honda’s EDI / Bar Coding standards.

In addition, Plexus strives to provide Honda suppliers with the other tools that help them to run their business more efficiently, including the following:

Automotive Release System: Plexus Online provides a tightly-integrated solution for handling Order Management, EDI, Inventory Control, Bar Code Labeling, and Finished Goods Shipping. This provides a streamlined, real-time system for managing and fulfilling Honda releases.

Quality Management System: Plexus Online provides a comprehensive quality solution, including Product Specifications, Process Flow Charts, FMEA, Control Plans, Shop Floor Process Instructions, Inspection Data Collection, SPC, PPAP, Problem Control System (Corrective Actions), Internal Auditing, Compliance Module, and 30 other quality modules.

Lean Manufacturing Execution System: Plexus Online was designed and built around the principles of lean manufacturing. This includes our trademark Scanban™ system involving bar coded kanban cards, as well as our virtual kanban scheduling system, electronic pull, automatic replenishment, and hiejunka load leveling. Using its powerful Control Panel on the shop floor, Plexus Online provides extensive poka-yoke (mistake proofing) in the production process.

Inventory Tracking System: Plexus Online provides a detailed, real-time Inventory Tracking System specifically designed for discrete manufacturing and assemblies. It provides serialized, container-level tracking, unit-level tracking, and also piece-level tracking. This subsystem, which uses bar coding extensively, provides your company with constant, detailed visibility of all your inventory, including the part, quantity, engineering level, location on the shop floor, heat/lot, and much more. Integrated within the Inventory Tracking System, Plexus Online provides a Part Genealogy and Traceability System, which allows you to diagnose manufacturing issues, increase accountability, trace defective material, contain quality problems, and fulfill OEM traceability requirements. The traceability system allows you to quickly and easily track down the production date, time, shift, machine, operators, materials, components, suppliers, process details, tooling, quality inspection data, and more. The graphical traceability tree allows you to trace both forward through the process (to see where a raw material / component has been used) as well as backward through the process (to see the source materials/components for a WIP or finished goods container).

TS-16949 Certification: Plexus Online is used by our customers as the primary tool for attaining and maintaining the TS-16949 Certification. Plexus Online helps you achieve this automotive quality standard in the most cost-effective and meaningful way for your company.

Independence Day

Detroit fireworks 2007
Originally uploaded by statlerhotel

Happy 4th of July! Hope you have a fun and safe holiday today!

Who am I and what am I doing?

I'm Kim Hayward, and I've been working at Plexus Systems, Inc. for 9 years. I'm an "Plexus Online Evangelist". My job is to increase the visibility of Plexus Online on the web.

Based out of Auburn Hills, Michigan, I work closely with our global customer base to arrange communications, new and old. My broader mission is to reach the manufacturers of the world and let them know about Plexus Online as a software solution. The software engineers here at Plexus Systems, Inc. have built the first intergraded SaaS application for the manufacturing industry. Plexus employees have collectively built an amazing online manufacturing software system and that's one of the main reasons for my blogging … to reach a broad audience.

My background before coming to Plexus Systems, Inc. was quite varied. Let’s see... I’ve worked in nursing, (obgyn) on the street, (EMT) business owner, (country decor) stay at home mom (two fantastic children), marketing, (fastener mfg) advertising, (full service) plastics (injection molding) and retail (yes, Kmart). While working in a Doctor’s office we implemented a new medical software system and that was all it took for me to know what industry I wanted to work in. As a Plexus Online evangelist, I'm focused on "The Latest Plexus News", whatever that might be.

I work with a lot of really smart people … if you have questions about Plexus Online, please communicate with us on my blog. We're focused on providing highly-effective software solutions for manufacturing companies. Plexus Online is the online business intelligence system for the following industries: Automotive Manufacturing, Aerospace & Defense, Industrial Manufacturing, Medical Devices, Discrete Manufacturing, Complex Manufacturing, Stamping, Forging, Metalforming, Injection Molding, Plastics, Steel Processing, Assemblies and others.

Please let us know what issues you face and the things you care about.

GrandCentral Reservation Confirmed!

The following is my confimation, new signup is closed...

Your Reservation Has Been Confirmed Thank you for your interest in GrandCentral. We will let you know as soon as we open up our service to more users. At that time you will be able to choose the specific phone number that you would like to use. We will make all possible efforts to ensure there are numbers in the area code or city you have selected, but there may be some areas where we won't have coverage. We'll do our best. The GrandCentral Team

Lean Manufacturing Software

Plexus has a long history with Lean Manufacturing. In fact, the company Plexus Systems Inc. grew out of MSP Industries Corporation, a manufacturer that helped pioneer lean manufacturing principles in the automotive industry.

Today, Plexus offers a variety of options for lean manufacturing. We offer Scanban, which uses physical barcoded Kanban Cards. We also offer the more popular Electronic Kanban System, which is easier to manage and implement, and can be used in hybrid combination with more traditional scheduling methodologies. Each part and operation can be setup to use the type of scheduling that makes the most sense for the situation. We also offer other lean scheduling tools, such as our Electronic Pull Scheduler and the Online Customer Replenishment System.

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Plexus Expands The Value Proposition Of Its SaaS Model

It has become almost an article of faith that mid-size manufacturing companies, particularly those with little or no IT staff, need highly packaged systems that require little human intervention to run. This requirement has been at the center of the emerging value proposition for the so-called software-as-a-service application model, popularized by salesforce.com in the customer relationship management (CRM) market and now the subject of campaigns by enterprise resource planning (ERP) suppliers.

In a recent briefing, Plexus CEO and President Mark Symonds said the company came up with the idea for the engine about a year ago. "Engineering was tasked to come up with something revolutionary, " Symonds said. "We had had tools to enable customization, but the rendering engine goes way beyond what we had." But Plexus officials see another benefit to the engine, one that addresses the needs of larger organizations with IT staffs. "This gives back some control," says Tom Mackey, executive vice president of sales. "There was a gap in the offering for big companies that needed to make a change in the software."

Plexus showed a test version of the rendering engine at its user group meeting in May. Although the engine was originally envisioned as an internal development platform, Symonds has high hopes for it going forward, even suggesting that Plexus may develop a separate business around it.

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SaaS Kills Legacy Apps

ERP (dull!) + Manufacturing (depressing!)+ SaaS (exciting!) = SUCCESS

• Enterprise software is horrible, and everybody hates it
• 70% of ERP deployments are failures (Gartner)
• TCO far outweighs the benefits – yet average lifespan for an ERP deployment is 7 to 10 years (Forrester)
• New features and custom requests take months for implementation, often are not supported in upgrades

Software as a Service wins

• Salesforce.com has made the case for SaaS
• BUT, most think of SaaS as only for “point” solutions
• They’re WRONG – SaaS can deliver it all!

Plexus Online: True ERP via SaaS

Multi-tenant and on-demand since 2001
Full-featured system - 350 integrated modules – “shop floor to top floor”

Plexus Replaces Infor Globally
$1.2 Billion Global Manufacturer

• Dissolved JV in US and needed to replace aging Infor solution
• US operation selected Plexus
• Japanese parent then selected Plexus for global operations – 35 plants in 17 countries
• US went live with 6 plants within 10 months of purchase

Plexus Replaces Oracle, Displaces SAP
$350 Million Auto Supplier

• Former Oracle shop
• Almost selected SAP when we were introduced
• PO within 3 months of first contact
• Many customizations
• 7 Plants, 3 countries – ERP, MES, EDI in 9 months

Company Abandons Oracle, Selects Plexus
$70 Million Company

• IT Department selected Oracle
• Company paid $500k for software then sought bids for implementation
• Best bid was $2.5 million and 2 years
• Walked away from the Oracle investment and put in Plexus Online

Plexus Wins Because The Product Is Great

• COMPLETE solution for manufacturers
• Ease of use drives “day 1” adoption by users
• Software evolves constantly
• 100% success rate for deployments
• 100% satisfied customer base
• 100% customer retention
• Results: Annual growth rate exceeding 45%, >350 current clients
• Plexus Systems: Shop Floor to Top Floor
  
  

Plexus Online® helps Detroit tool manager improve efficiency

Keeping up with the Hatebur
The key to success at this tool manager’s plant is keeping the expensive and productive Hatebur forging presses running. The Hateburs go through a lot of tools, and the tool manager’s biggest challenge is keeping enough on hand to meet the demand.

Before the switch to Plexus Online, the company’s tool room, inventory department, engineering department and purchasing department all had different computer systems, none of which provided a real-time view of orders to suppliers. Without the benefit of a single centralized system that Plexus Online provides, the tool manager never knew if his tool data, tool inventory and supplier release information was up to date.

“Before Plexus, we had multiple databases and they didn’t talk to each other,” he said. “We were losing track of our inventory and we got the feeling we were losing up to 10 percent. But there was no way to figure out what was going wrong.”

With Plexus Online® tool-tracking, all departments draw on the same data. The engineering department controls the tool list, tool drawings, tool revision levels, and bills of material. The tool purchasing department creates internal work orders and releases to suppliers for the tools in that same list. No longer does the tool manager have to write himself notes about inputting data from one system to another. No longer does he have to consult four computer screens to figure out the status of an order.

The synthesis of information in one system has enabled the tool manager to streamline the inventory, reduce carrying costs and increase responsiveness to the production needs at the same time.

Plexus Online eliminated many man-hours spent on calculating tool requirements and on inputting the resulting work orders and releases. Integration is the key. Plexus has the current production schedule, the tool bill of materials for each run, the run quantities, and the standard tool life for each tool. Since all the information is real time, the tool manager knows what is on hand and on order. The rest is just math–what used to take hours to calculate, order and verify by phone now takes seconds.

“A lot of people were skeptical that Plexus could do all this, but it has worked very well,” the tool manager said. The system provides much better management of engineering specifications and drawings. The latest revisions for a tool are immediately made available to the tool shop or the outside supplier, and unfilled orders for earlier versions of the tool are red-flagged for reconsideration. All the departments have access to the same engineering drawings because they all share the same database through Plexus Online.

Plexus Online provides a complete system for tracking tools from design to delivery, so its benefits go far beyond inventory management. “Now we have the ability to do a root-cause analysis and drive improvements with data,” he said.

Improved communications

The main reason why the tool manager didn’t have accurate inventory information was the lack of electronic communication between the tool room and the inventory department located just a few hundred feet apart. It was hard to find out the status of orders inside the tool room, and the tool room’s software didn’t follow the tools after they went out the door.

With a single integrated system, the internal challenge became the discipline to make every transaction first in Plexus Online®, then in the physical world. For example, each die-maker must click the “complete” button before physically moving the tools to the next operation. The tool manager acknowledged that at first the strict standards for data entry were hard to meet and caused some delays. “This requires training and discipline,” he said. “One of our challenges is to make it habitual.”

Plexus Online also improved communications with suppliers. As soon as an order is placed for a tool, it becomes visible to the supplier in an online-release system. The supplier provides a commit date and logs any comments for the purchasing department to see. When the shipment is ready, the supplier goes to Plexus Online to print out a shipper. When the shipment is received, the tooling department makes one scan, instead of manually entering receipts into the purchasing system and then manually updating the inventory system.

The old approach to shipping and receiving tools was time-consuming and exposed the company to data entry errors. Whenever a discrepancy was discovered, the tool manager had to make adjustments to bring the inventory back in line. It was a never-ending task.

With Plexus Online, the movement of tools through the tool shop and from suppliers is captured automatically and reflected throughout the entire system. “I’ve posted a sign that says -- Transactions are good, Adjustments are bad,” the tool manager said. “Under the old system, we were constantly making adjustments.”

Troubleshooting

In the past the tool manager reacted to sudden tool shortages by mounting a search or ordering more without determining the cause. Now he spends less time on stopgap measures and more time addressing underlying problems.

Plexus Online enables him to determine if enough tools were ordered and if they were produced and delivered on time. If a defect is detected, he can track individual tools back to the date of fabrication to see if there was a production problem that needs to be addressed. Another Plexus Online module tracks the raw materials used to make an individual tool.

“We get to go after root causes as opposed to putting out fires,” he said.

Inventory Tracking

Inventory
Originally uploaded by Kim Hayward

Receiving, processing, and shipping inventory is the soul of a manufacturing company. Running an efficient operation depends upon accurate inventory information.

At Plexus, we pride ourselves on providing the most powerful inventory control system in the industry. We believe that true inventory control – something useful to the people running the shop floor – must track inventory in real-time, must track individual containers and/or units, and must utilize bar coding or some other type of auto-identification. With Plexus Online, you get all these features and more.

Integrated Modules

Part List & Process Routings
Raw Material Receiving
Inventory Control
Advanced Traceability & Part Genealogy
Subcontractor Shipping/Receiving
Customer Shipping
Cycle Inventory
Returnable Container Tracking
Inventory Valuation

Special Features

Serialized container-level or unit-level tracking of all inventory.
Built-in barcode printing and scanning.
Built-in support for AIAG Shipment Labels, Master Units, & hundreds more.
Integrated heat/lot traceability
Easy-to-use shop floor data collection, including wireless Pocket PCs.
Highly flexible configurability.
Full integration with production tracking and all other aspects of your system.

RIP, Software — But are We Replacing it With Something ‘SaaSy?’

Our youngsters only know SaaS - and that’s what they will continue to expect as they come of age. Jeremy Wagstaff, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, looks at yet another pronouncement of “Microsoft is dead” in a recent blog post, and actually says it isn’t Microsoft, it’s software in general that is dead.

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