Johannesburg, 05 May 2003
To integrate its manufacturing and accounting processes countrywide, MiTek Industries South Africa (SA) implemented Software Performance Improvement (Pty) Limited's (SPI's) output management solution, OptioDCS, and QAD SA's enterprise software, MFG/PRO.
MiTek SA supplies state-of-the-art engineered products and services for the building components industry and is part of the global MiTek group, which is the world's leading timber roof truss system supplier.
Herman Lombard, financial manager: MiTek, says the company wanted to replace its legacy accounting system with a real-time solution that could integrate its manufacturing processes with the sales and accounting functions at its branches.
"MiTek previously processed all sales-type transactions centrally at the company's head office.
"By enabling its Gauteng, Nelspruit, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth branches to carry out these functions locally, MiTek would introduce significant cost savings and enhance its client service."
Lombard says QAD is a preferred supplier to Mitek globally, so MiTek SA decided to implement QAD's MFG/PRO, one of the most comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions available in the market for manufacturers.
"But MiTek also wanted to generate and distribute client order documentation at the branches directly from MFG/PRO via print, fax or e-mail, according to the customer's individual needs," he adds.
"Moreover, MiTek wanted to move away from pre-printed forms to the production of custom-designed purchase orders, delivery notes, invoices and statements on demand."
Lombard says QAD business partner SPI suggested the Optio Document Customisation Server (DCS) solution on a Microsoft Windows 2000 platform to allow MiTek full control over the appearance and delivery of its enterprise application output.
"A major advantage of the OptioDCS solution is the fact that it is not tied into MFG/PRO, which means MiTek's document output does not have to be modified whenever a new MFG/PRO release or update is implemented."
Lombard explains: "OptioDCS intercepts the spool file from MFG/PRO and customises the information's appearance to MiTek's exact requirements."
"Also, Optio's fax and e-mail capabilities allow business documents to be sent to multiple destinations simultaneously and automatically, eliminating much human intervention to enhance MiTek's employee productivity."
Lombard says by eliminating expensive pre-printed stationary and allowing the branches to process customer documentation directly, SPI's output management solution will definitely introduce significant cost and time savings for MiTek.
He adds that virtually no intrusive integration was necessary to implement the SPI solution with MFGPRO.
"Mitek had its financial year-end on 31 December 2002, but was able to go live with both applications on 1 January 2003."
Garth Meier, account manager: SPI, concurs, saying SPI's speed of development and implementation of the distributed document customization solution at MiTek was of great advantage to the company.
"OptioDCS and MFG/PRO provide MiTek with a complete solution across its business, ensuring faster and more effective transfer of business data to clients and suppliers."