The Devil is in the Details
Manufacturing Excellence Through Attention to Detail
Manufacturing excellence is achieved by paying attention to the smallest detail. During my time working in manufacturing, I witnessed firsthand how an owner’s dedication to tracking and understanding every aspect of the manufacturing process—and ensuring his employees shared this commitment—led to remarkable success.
The foundation of this approach began with the part quoting process. Engineers and estimators were required to provide comprehensive details for manufacturing each part, including:
- Operation set-up and run times
- Work center specifications
- Special instructions
- Subassembly requirements (including every nut, bolt, and raw material)
- Outside process specifications, including designated vendors
While engineers initially resisted this level of detail—citing time constraints and low quote-to-order conversion rates—the owner’s response remained consistent: “Do the detailed work now during quoting, so when we receive the order months later, no one has to guess at the original thought process behind the pricing.”
This detailed approach yielded an additional benefit: Order entry personnel could efficiently process new orders using the Epicor ERP system by linking orders to quotes and transferring manufacturing details directly into job documentation. This streamlined process allowed production to quickly review, modify if necessary, schedule, and generate shop paperwork.
The resulting Shop Traveler provided production workers with clear, specific instructions that included:
- Start dates required to meet customer delivery deadlines
- Required materials (both raw and finished)
- Operations sequence with specific machine/work area assignments and estimated times
- Production quantities
- Subcontract work requirements and timing
Manufacturing errors, like most business mistakes, often stem from poor communication about production requirements. By maintaining detailed documentation from quote to completion—including actual time, materials, and costs—management could fully leverage their Epicor ERP system to identify their most profitable parts, work types, and customers. This insight enabled them to pursue more profitable work while phasing out low-margin customers.
Our shop utilized the Completed Job Report and Part History Report (standard features in Epicor ERP) to analyze performance and implement this strategy. The results spoke for themselves: the business grew tenfold within five years.
If your company wants to better understand the importance of accurate job and part history reporting, EstesGroup’s ERP manufacturing solutions can help you interpret this data to ensure your business’s success in any economic climate.
Remember: The devil is in the details.
Simplify Technology, Improve Operations, and Gain Efficiencies with Epicor ERP for Manufacturing.
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