Drexel discovers “Easy” Way To Enhance Its Manufacturing Ordering Process

Furniture World Magazine

Rarely does software designed for retailers find its way into the typically much more complex environment of a major manufacturer. Yet that’s exactly what occurred when Drexel Heritage decided to integrate MicroD’s EasyOrder software into its own manufacturing ordering process. According to Gary Apple, (Director of Upholstery Services) at Drexel Heritage, “EasyOrder is a wonderful software package that enables us to validate incoming upholstery and case goods orders quickly and accurately, virtually eliminating costly and time-consuming errors and delays. Previously”, Apple continues, “when we received and prepared an order for manufacturing, most options were listed as text, which meant they could only be validated manually when the order reached the manufacturing floor, days or even weeks later, depending on our production load. With EasyOrder, however, we can instantly verify that all the manufacturing requirements, such as materials, price and options are correct. That’s especially important for us because we often offer more options than other manufacturers.” “Since we specified the parameters for MicroD to use in developing our version of EasyOrder, we know that the “rules” for each piece of furniture are correct. What’s more, EasyOrder will even compute yardage requirements, including our Drexel-specified allowance for waste. As a result, if there is an error in the order submission, or a materials availability issue, we can instantly catch it and notify the retailer, often in the same day.” Aside from enhancing order-configuration and verification, another important challenge was integrating this new software into Drexel’s overall manufacturing systems. “Despite it’s inherent benefits,” notes Apple, it was equally important to us that Easy Order fit into our J.D. Edwards manufacturing system for upholstered goods and to our proprietary manufacturing system for case goods.“ The end result for Drexel is improved accuracy and timeliness in fulfilling orders, an increasingly important consideration for competitive-minded manufacturers and service-minded retailers. “The best of all worlds”, Apple notes, “will be when the retailer uses EasyOrder to configure their orders and send them to their retail system and then use a B2B service such as Exim Commerce to translate, route and deliver the orders electronically. This will make the entire process fast and seamless, eliminating the time and effort for the retailer to fax the order to us and for us to re-key it into our EasyOrder software. Additionally, this will enable us to communicate confirmations, scheduled delivery dates and other advisories electronically back to the retailer.” Drexel will also be using MicroD’s newly released software named MPCat (Master Product Catalog) for creating, maintaining product catalogs that conform to the furniture industry catalogs developed by the Furniture Industry Data Exchange Committee. As customers become more sophisticated and demanding, and as foreign competitors make more inroads in the U.S marketplace, it becomes clear that U.S. manufacturers must find new ways to remain competitive. “One of the most cost-effective ways to do that,” says Manoj Nigam, President of MicroD, “is to take advantage of the efficiencies available through computerization and the Internet. By reducing manual processes, such as paper catalogs and fax transmissions, even smaller manufacturers and retailers can become more capable and more responsive in their customers’ eyes while reducing the time and effort required and eliminating errors. That’s our focus at MicroD and why we are so pleased to be the supplier of this new solution to Drexel Heritage.”