MIE Solutions UK Ltd

The Importance Of ERP Implementation

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 20/10/2023

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, companies need to leverage technology to stay ahead of the competition. The implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is one such technological advancement that can revolutionise the way businesses operate. ERP software integrates various functions within an organization, ranging from finance and human resources to supply chain management and production control.

Despite the numerous benefits these systems bring to modern-day manufacturing the failure rate is still very high. Here at MIE Solutions we have years of successful implementations under our belt and have used this experience to compile a list of the 4 most common issues that can occur.

System Functionality

There are so many different systems to choose from that all offer a different perspective when it comes to ERP. Choosing a system to suit your exact needs is a must considering if you get this wrong, you may be stuck with a system that instead of enhancing your operations, ties you down with extensive and expensive rewrites and customisations. Different packages offer different core features and are driven by different values and theories. For example, some are very good at handling financials and the accounting side of things, whereas others prosper when it comes to the front end of the system such as CRM
(Customer relationship management). Here at MIE, we are production, reporting, and costing driven and so that's why we stick to what we know and declare ourselves a production control-specific package.

Another important thing to consider is whether an ERP system has been built specifically for the manufacturing industry, this ensures you are dealing with a piece of software written specifically for your sector and by people who understand your needs without effectively trying to make a square peg fit a round hole. MIETrak Pro is written by manufacturing professionals for manufacturing professionals with over 25 years of experience in the industry.

Be Sure Of The Cost

The amount of times our sales team has walked into a manufacturing company to find out they have spent tens of thousands on an ERP system that is still ‘sat in the box’ is staggering. According to a Panorama ERP study, 74.1% of ERP projects exceed budget, so make sure you are clear of the financial implications from the offset. Be sure to question things such as the structure of the software (modular or complete), and potential charges for report changes,
and find out if the company has a tiered-based support contract.

Speaking on behalf of MIE and the way we do business. Report changes are covered by your annual support contract and we do not have a tiered system. Once on support, our support team is at your disposal to whatever extent you require. The system itself comes as a complete package so there are no bolt-ons, and once you have purchased the software it's yours. We are often complemented by our customers for our transparency and fair pricing. This is something we pride ourselves on and have built into our business strategy.

Speak To People In Your Shoes

So you have just had a demonstration by a potential ERP supplier that went well and they answered ‘yes’ to every question you threw their way. First things first, get them to show you there and then that it can do what they say it can do. Also, be sure to cross-reference their claims with people who actually use the system on a daily basis. Next, ask for a list of references that you can contact directly for an unbiased opinion and try to speak with companies who work within the same industry. Generally, if it works for them, there is a high chance it will work for you. According to Mint Jutras, a staggering 67% of companies reported that they needed a solution with more industry-specific functionality than their current ERP system. As I'm sure you will agree, this statistic alone makes the point I have just highlighted a major priority.

Make The Head Space Within The Business

Arguably the hardest part of the implementation process is balancing the day-to-day operations of your business with the training of your team on the new system. The companies we work with who invest in change management initiatives to ensure buy-in and involvement from all stakeholders are always the most successful in the implementation process. Training employees and getting their 'buy-in' will ultimately be the deciding factor on the success of implementation, a big part of achieving this is making sure your ERP provider offers robust training initiatives and are able to motivate your team in the belief that once up and running the system will enhance working operations.

At MIE Solutions we invest heavily in our world-class support experts and training providers making sure they are professional and knowledgable, not only in our ERP system but in the whole manufacturing process. Our training can be offered in the form of onsite, at our offices, or remotley to suit your needs and with unrestricted access to our help desk. Visit www.mie-solutions.co.uk/testimonials to hear what our customers say about us.

Conclusion

The general rule of thumb when looking at such an investment is to take your time. Make sure you have all of your questions answered and never just take the sales rep's word for it. Be sure to understand the implementation process as well as the ERP package itself as this is crucial in ensuring success.

At MIE Solutions we follow our proven 7-step implementation plan. If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk
Call us: 01527 576444
Visit Our Website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Increase Efficiencies, Reduce Costs And improve Your Bottom Line With MIETrak Pro

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 31/07/2023

In today's rapidly changing and competitive market, manufacturing companies big and small are constantly looking for ways to increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve their bottom line. One tool that has been proven to be extremely effective in achieving these goals is the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. Here at MIE Solutions, we believe MIETrak Pro is the essential tool for any manufacturing company looking for full business transparency in real time at a competitive price.

MIETrak is a comprehensive and integrated system that allows manufacturing companies to manage all aspects of their operations, including production planning, scheduling, inventory control, procurement, and quality management. By streamlining these critical processes, MIETRak Pro enables manufacturers to improve overall efficiency, meet customer demands more effectively, and ultimately increase their profitability.

One of the key benefits of MIETrak Pro software in manufacturing is the ability to automate and streamline production planning and scheduling. Manufacturers can easily create and manage production orders, monitor real-time production progress, and effectively allocate resources. This means that production can be planned in a more accurate and efficient way, resulting in reduced lead times, minimized downtime, and improved on-time delivery performance.

Another area where our solution can significantly improve efficiencies in manufacturing is inventory control. By providing real-time visibility into inventory levels, MIETrak Pro allows manufacturers to maintain optimal inventory levels, avoid stock-outs, and reduce carrying costs. Furthermore, it can facilitate the implementation of various inventory optimization techniques, such as Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing and Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI), leading to further reductions in inventory holding and handling costs.

Effective procurement is another critical aspect of manufacturing operations that can be greatly enhanced by MIETrak Pro. The software enables manufacturers to automate and streamline the procurement process, from supplier selection and negotiation to order placement and receipt. This not only reduces the administrative burden associated with procurement but also allows for better supplier relationship management, improved negotiation power, and more cost-effective purchasing decisions.

Quality management is another critical area where MIETrak Pro can have a significant impact on manufacturing efficiencies. By integrating quality control processes into the overall ERP system, manufacturers can standardize and automate quality inspections, track quality-related data, and implement corrective actions more effectively. This ensures that defects are detected and addressed promptly, reducing rework, scrap, and customer complaints. Ultimately, MIETrak Pro software helps manufacturers improve product quality, enhance customer satisfaction, and maintain their competitive edge.

In addition to these specific areas, our ERP software also provides manufacturers with a holistic view of their business operations. By integrating data from various departments and functions into a centralized database, MIETrak Pro enables manufacturers to gain valuable insights into their processes, performance, and profitability whilst presenting them in a personalized and easy to interpret format. Armed with this information, manufacturers can make data-driven decisions, identify opportunities for further improvement, and quickly respond to changing market conditions, all of which contribute to increased efficiencies and overall success.

In conclusion, MIETrak pro will play a vital role in increasing efficiencies in your manufacturing business. With its ability to automate and streamline critical processes, provide real-time visibility and control, and facilitate informed decision-making, our ERP software empowers manufacturers to optimize their operations, reduce costs, and improve their bottom line. In a world where competitiveness and profitability are paramount, implementing an ERP system is no longer an option but a necessity for manufacturers looking to thrive in the industry.

For a free demonstration and to discuss your business needs please contact Mr Tom Trow-Poole at sales@mie-solutions.co.uk or call 01527 576444

Lower Labour Costs With ERP Software

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 08/11/2023

European manufacturers are often at a disadvantage when competing against other countries due to the higher labor costs and overheads they endure. Add to this a shortage in skilled labor and it begs the question, how do UK manufacturers still remain competitive in a global market?

As we can't lower wages and neither would we want to, it's imperative to operate at full efficiency and incorporate lean manufacturing techniques to help level the playing field against the rest of the world and get the most 'bang for our buck' in terms of labor costs. One such tool that has been proven to help manufacturers turn the corner in efficiency and thus lower the price we pay for labor is ERP software.

In order to get the best from our labor forces we need to provide them with the best tools for the job, whilst leveraging real-time data from the shop floor to make informed decisions that allow them to operate to their full potential. An ERP system is 1 of those tools, allowing manufacturers to automate processes, reduce manual entry, and provide a centralised data storage system accommodating quicker & more accurate communications. An ERP-integrated system notifies employees which job to run next, no more asking supervisors for directions or hunting down paperwork. All the information regarding the next job is available at the touch of a button, click of a mouse, or glance at a screen. Use EDI (electronic data interchange) to electronically receive purchase orders, job changes, job specs, and other documents from customers and vendors that automatically populate the data throughout your system.

Rather than spending hours on everyday tasks such as data entry, inventory management, or order processing, employees can focus on more strategic and value-added tasks that require human expertise. Optimizing our resource allocation through ERP ultimately delivers a more efficient and productive workforce leading to shorter cycle times, improved product quality, and delighted customers who return time and time again to UK manufacturers for the best overall value and quality in the world.

Hundreds of UK manufacturers are leveraging the complete modular ERP software called MIETrak Pro from MIE Solutions and are benefiting from lower labor costs through increased efficiencies as a result. For a FREE, NO OBLIGATION demonstration please either:

Email at: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk,

Call at: 01527 576444

Improve efficiency with work order nesting

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 31/10/2016

Further improving the efficiency of the shop floor is every manufacturers ongoing goal. Over a long period of time, even the smallest of inefficiencies mount up to create a cost that is worth taking note of. A lot of these inefficiencies are not caused by the manufacturing process itself, but more commonly by aspects that accompany it. Examples can be things such as trying to find materials or even getting machines set up to run a batch.

An approach that is used to help improve efficiencies in both of these productive and non-productive areas is the concept of work order nesting. Work order nesting consists of grouping a number of individual work orders that have a common factor. This common factor may be that they all use the same grade of material or that they are required to go through the same manufacturing sequence. Below are two of the main advantages gained by using work order nesting;

- Better material utilisation. In the case that you have multiple works orders that all require the same grade of material, work order nesting can be very useful for a number of reasons. First of all, if someone is searching for enough material for one nest as oppose to seven individual jobs, they are going to save time and effort as they will only be searching the once to meet the requirements for the nest as a whole. Once the material is then being consumed, they will be able to achieve better material utilisation as they can plan for the entire nest from the outset as opposed to seven individual parts.

- Avoid multiple set ups. This very simple concept can improve your efficiency tenfold for a number of reasons. By grouping multiple jobs that share a common manufacturing sequence under one nest, you are able to save on someone having to set up the machine more than once which in itself, helps drastically reduce the probability of human error. This enables you to save huge amounts of time and is also an area that can further improve your profit margins. Generally, a lot of jobs would have originally been quoted individually and as a result, they would have all been quoted to include their own set up charge, meaning that out of the 7 set up charges that were originally quoted, 6 of them now make up pure profit. As with the benefits mentioned above for material utilisation, you are now removing the need for someone to go and find the tooling required for the job several times.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Improved Workflow Efficiency With ERP Software

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 04/03/2024

Stevenage Sheet Metal was established in 1976 and since then has developed a reputation for precision, speed and quality, providing an engineered solution to a vast array of customers covering nearly every sector. Equipped with 3D scanning, 3D Design technology, and state-of-the-art fabrication machinery, as well as multiple finishing capabilities, there is virtually no limit to the products they can design, fabricate, and assemble. With 50+ highly skilled engineers nurtured through the companies apprenticeship scheme, SSM has formed a longstanding and well knit team - giving the company a competitive reach.

Operating out of a state of the art 20,000 sq ft manufacturing facility, SSM offers 24 hour production managed by the comprehensive job tracking system MIETrak Pro. Stevenage Sheet Metal have been a longterm customer of MIE Solutions for over 20 years and in that time has migrated to MIETrak Pro from our original Farbitrak ERP system. Since the adoption of MIETrak Pro SSM has seen significant improvements to their daily operations - one of the most beneficial features being the comprehensive job tracking and scheduling modules. By centralising and automating these processes they have seen a near 100% eradication of production bottlenecks, optimised resource allocation and improved workflow efficiency - all of which have led to cost savings for the company. Additionally, the real-time visibility provided by MIETrak Pro has given the company the ability to track production progress and make better, more informed decisions. This has allowed SSM to deliver customer service that matches their exacting product standards, through faster order processing and clear communication.

Stevenage Sheet Metal is a prime example of how a company can grow exponentially by utilising MIETrak Pro’s scalability. As MIETrak Pro is brought as a complete modular system there have been no extra costs to the business to develop into the more advanced features of the solution. Having met the ROI years ago the only optional recurring cost for the company is for their access to the support desk and regular updates that MIETrak make in order to ensure that the software and our customers, remain at the forefront of technological advancements. Stevenage Sheet Metal has leveraged its access to a knowledgeable support team and comprehensive ERP solution to enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and improve overall productivity making them a supplier of choice in the sheet metal industry.

‘The integration of MIETrak has been key to our efficiency improvements throughout our organisation, with particular emphasis on optimising our sales enquiry processing. The process of initiating sales enquiries has been notably simplified, enabling immediate release to manufacturing upon order placement. This aligns with our organisational ethos of providing our customers with a short lead time while maintaining our exceptional quality standards. It has been a pleasure working with the MIE Solutions team over the years, both their customer support and product quality match their reputation for reliability within the sector. Ray Mckenzie- Head Of Operations

Understanding the quoting process of sheet metal

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 23/11/2015

As with most industries, the sheet metal industry has its own unique quoting methods and requirements which people with a non-sheet metal background would struggle to comprehend. Finding a quoting system to suit its exact needs is tricky.... That is unless you find one that is specifically developed for the industry itself. Only once the market is fully understood, can such a product exist, and the most common way to fully understand a market is to work within it. There are so many quoting software suppliers that have gifted technical development teams, but being gifted and having experience are two separate things all together. Putting a general quoting system in place may fulfil some of your needs, but when costs need to be tracked to the penny, and time to the second, the outcome can fall quite short. Below are some basic things that you should expect to see in a sheet metal specific quoting system;

- Do I really stand a chance of winning this job? The quoting module should be every estimators best friend by making their life as easy as possible. There may be cases where you receive quotation requests, look at it for split second and think there is no chance we are going to win this job. On the other hand, a common saying is never try, never know, and so not quoting the job all together could prove costly. In this case, having the ability to guesstimate the job without having to spend time and effort in detailing the quote is essential. At the end of the day, should you win the quote, you can go back and put the detail in for manufacture further down the line.

- Quoting calculations. Quoting sheet metal is a very industry specific process. As we know, the time taken to cut a piece of metal out of a sheet is determined by the machinery we use. Trumpf, Amada and Bystronic are to name just a few of the many machine manufacturers in the market. Each manufacturer has numerous machines that all operate at different speeds. Being able to input customised formulas that take into account feed rates and material thickness should be a given. Depending on the situation, we sometimes wish to charge our customer for more than just the sheet they are physically receiving. Examples would be when we have cut their parts and the remainder of the sheet is pretty much worthless, and so having the ability to charge them for the scrap as well comes into play. Machines will also most often have dead zones and so charging them for the blank should be a standard option. In todays market, automation is at the forefront of technical evolution. The ability to analyze DXFs and import electronic RFQs should be features worth considering, as it eliminates manual entry and also saves valuable time.

- The best sheet to use is......? Picking the most suitable sheet for a job can be of huge benefit to a company, from both a financial and time saving perspective. Maintaining the highest material utilisation benefits both costs due to less scrap, but also in terms of time, as the handling of different sheets, whether it be scrap or full sheets, will be kept to a minimum. Being able to see how many parts you can get out of a sheet in terms of a visualisation can be extremely useful. As we all know, we have multiple stock sizes and so being able to compare the utilisation at a glance is a must.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Time for a rethink? New Year, New ERP System?

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 07/01/2016

Many small to mid-sized manufacturers believe that they can do without an ERP system. They believe that their operation is simple enough that they can control it with a few spreadsheets. Often, this is simply not the case.

Reasons for implementing an ERP system.

Real-time information for decisions

Without an ERP system, your team is flying blind. They make decisions based on guesswork and rules of thumb because they dont have the data they need. Sometimes they are the right decisions, but more often, they can cost you money and customer goodwill.

Best practice procedures

Software companies often design their ERP systems to support specific industries. As they add customers, they learn industry best practices and incorporate them into the software. By implementing an ERP system designed for your industry, you automatically make your business processes more efficient.

Improved visibility

If customers want to know when their order will ship or if you need to know whether you have enough of a critical component to accept a rush order, an ERP system gives you instant visibility into your operations and your supply chain.

Increased customer satisfaction

Customers like accurate delivery dates, and ERP can help you provide them with improved inventory and shop floor visibility.

Managed and controlled costs

ERP systems calculate and collect costs so you always have an accurate picture of your product cost and margins.

Better operational efficiency

By helping you to plan production more effectively, your operational efficiency will improve as you reduce setups and teardowns or unnecessary downtime.

Accurate records

The uniformity of record data that an ERP system instills will help ensure that your records are more accurate, which will increase process accuracy across the board.

Balance of supply and demand

MRP, a component of ERP systems, will help you balance supply and demand so you can reduce inventory while keeping customers happy.

Reduced lead times and increased throughput

Better scheduling and accurate records ensure that your schedules focus on priorities, leading to shorter lead times. Since you wont have as many orders waiting for tooling or parts, your throughput will increase.

Why you need MIETrak Pro as your ERP Software

Call us: 01527 576444

Email: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Growth and investment go hand in hand with MIE Trak Pro

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 30/07/2019

Growth and investment go hand in hand

The success of any organisation comes from the top. At Recol Engineering Ltd based in Northampton, this is no exception. Mr Rhid Guntrip has been the Managing Director for over 30 years, and as a result of his vision they have become one of the most respected engineering companies in Europe, and are able to manufacture high quality, precision metalwork in all ferrous and non-ferrous materials.

To succeed you must invest

From cutting, through to fabrication and finishing. Recol have continually invested in the latest technology.

Mr Rhid Guntrip states
“My vision has always been to ensure total customer satisfaction”.

It is apparent from the second you walk through the door that investment is at the forefront of the company's priorities. You only have to look around to see the machinery that is used to deliver the highest quality of service to each customer.

From the fully automated Amada CNC Punching and Laser Cells to the CNC Milling and Turning centres, Recol offer a wide range of services to cater for their customers ever changing needs. Recol Engineering Ltd have expanded and diversified from being just a sheet metal manufacturing company with CNC machining capabilities, to becoming an organisation with two distinct sectors of expertise. Whilst they continue to maintain their leading position in the market of sheet metal, they are now actively becoming a preferred supplier of high end machined components. Investment radiates within the design and development department where the drawing preparation for 2D geometry manipulation takes place. Recol also use a highly efficient nesting package that enhances the Amada CNC laser and punching machines. Also available is a powerful 3D design package used for the quick development of parts, assemblies and 2D drawings. This 3D solution enables Recol to create, validate, communicate and manage your products designs. The latest Amada equipment have again been used within the precision CNC folding area and further strengthened recently with the purchase of a fully automated CNC folding cell. The company's CAD/CAM system takes their 3D product designs and generates the bending program and tool layouts automatically. The end result is reduced setup times without any compromises in quality for both new and repeat jobs.

Now comes the moment where your ideas come to life. Here, the Recol team of welders use Metal Inert Gas (MIG) and Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) arc welding applications to offer quality welding to meet the highest of specifications. In the final stages, the broad range of finishing on offer can only produce the highest of quality finishes, from powder coating and stove enamelling, through to polishing, graining, bead blasting, plating and screen printing.

Then there is the product assembly team who have extensive experience across a wide range of products, covering both mechanical and electrical assembly on products such as: street furniture, machine guards, specialist lighting, moving poster displays and point-of-sale display stands. It is clear that the long experience of contract and project management gives Recol Engineerings’ customers confidence in knowing Recol is overseeing every aspect of their job, from their initial enquiry through to delivery and after sales support. Recol Engineering prides themselves on the distribution of their products and is an integral part of the Recol Engineering business. There is no doubt that they have total emphasis on quality assurance and an excellent distribution network.

Noel Lovatt, Recol Engineering Commercial Director states;
“Our mission at Recol Engineering is to continually invest in the latest machinery and computer technology. As a result, we are ensuring we maintain our quality and competitive edge that has already secured the company's place within a very competitive market”.

To invest you must succeed

All manufacturers are under pressure to produce high quality products whilst keeping costs low. As we all know this has an effect on how competitive you can remain within the market. MIETrak Pro is an all inclusive package for the manufacturing industry. The software takes each individual process of the manufacturing workflow and brings them all together as one well oiled machine. By investing in this software, you are able to ensure that everyone is “reading from the same hymn sheet”. This in itself has a positive effect throughout any company.

MIE Solutions UK Ltd is based in Worcestershire and are the leading provider of Production Control Software to the manufacturing sector. They have 25 years experience within the sheet metal, engineering and fabrication industries, and have an international presence with over 10,000 users worldwide and offices situated throughout the world.

Sam Hawkes, MIE Solutions Sales Director, worked within the manufacturing industry before embarking on co owning MIE Solutions UK Ltd with Chris Mann. This experience has given Sam a first class insight into what the manufacturers’ needs are, and her vast experience is acknowledged and valued within the industry, making the customer instantly assured that the highest quality of service, product and efficiency are top of MIE Solutions UK Ltd priorities. Chris Mann, MIE Solutions Technical Director who also co owns MIE Solutions is constantly seen developing MIETrak Pro, ensuring it is up to date and working efficiently for today’s highly, competitive market.

Mr Noel Lovatt, Commercial Director at Recol Engineering states:
“MIETrak Pro was our preferred option as it provides a complete software solution specifically developed for the engineering and manufacturing industry. The latest version will integrate and streamline Recol’s operations across all of the sales, manufacturing, engineering and accounting functions to provide maximum efficiency.

The introduction of Real Time Tracking complemented by improvements to our Cost Control, MRP, Scheduling, Reporting, Quoting, Job Costing and Inventory Control modules will provide the solid foundations to support our business expansion. MIETrak Pro has been embraced throughout the shop floor and other departments, and the staffs have become more productive within each of their areas. The excellent service and support provided by Sam, Chris and the rest of the team at MIE Solutions has been instrumental to the success of this project.”

Success with the right ERP / MRP software solution.

Once you have made the decision to invest in the latest technology to bring together your company's workflow process, then comes the question which supplier to use? There are so many to choose from in today’s market, but it really does have to come down to “What can this software do for my staff and the company?” MIETrak Pro’s unique selling point is that it includes all the modules, nothing is hidden, no extra costs, a complete product from start to finish and is backed up with its fully operational support team.

Chris Mann adds;
“The main reason that we do not supply MIETrak Pro in modular format is that we believe that the system must be aware of all the factors that can affect production in order for it to function effectively. For example, it is key that the scheduling is aware that someone is away on holiday or if a material has not been delivered yet, as this will affect production lead time”.

MIETrak Pro gives full traceability adhering to ISO and aerospace requirements, enabling you to comply with the increasingly demanding industry. The system helps to avoid unnecessary overproduction, reduces administration and allows you to give a quick and accurate response to your customer. It also records and values the actual time for manufacture, creates a history to when the part was made, on which machine and by which person and it ensures that jobs are prioritised and materials are available before set-up commences. MIETrak Pro is based on the theory of being proactive rather than reactive and presents information to you, rather than you having to search for it. It is evident from the outset that the speed of order placing and raising enquiries has been improved for all users. Material traceability and historical records are now always accessible, along with detailed reporting for supply monitoring, cost control, scheduling and stock records.

Sam Hawkes states:
“MIETrak Pro makes you more aware of the key elements vital to running a manufacturing business. It provides the grounding for the manufacturer to be able to give accurate answers to the customer quickly. When you invest in MIETrak Pro you also invest in the MIE Solutions team who are with you every step of the way from the implementation through to training and support. Any questions that need answering, any reports that need writing, MIE Solutions are always there”.

MIE Solutions Technical Director, Chris Mann concludes;
“MIETrak Pro can be moulded to your manufacturing specifics and because of this we are able to make improvements based on the experiences we have had with our customers making it a unique system. In a nutshell, MIETrak Pro will manage the entire workflow process and streamline your operations. Long gone are the labour intensive and time consuming duties. The future of first class manufacturing is here at your fingertips”.

For more Information and for a free no obligation demonstration, please call : 01527 576444
or
email: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Who, when, where and why?

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 04/04/2016

The journey taken by a product/service often provides a detailed insight into the reasons and purpose of the initial project. Although at face value MIETrak appears to be a modern piece of software that has only been around for the last 10 years or so, its story and history paint a completely different picture.

The core foundations of MIETrak were first formed in the 1980s by the now president of MIE Solutions, David Ferguson. After seeing his father, who owned and ran a fabrication shop that still stands today, come home night after night with quotes to create, he identified a gap in the market and created the original QuoteIT to help automate the process. QuoteIT is a piece of estimating software that was designed to manage the quotation process for fabrication job shops. QuoteIT, now branded as QuoteIT Pro, is still used throughout the world and has diversified and been manipulated to be used in a wider range of manufacturing sectors. From the outset, the software was driven by someone with a production background and whose sole intention was to tackle the problems faced by manufacturers.

By the mid 80s QuoteIT had become one of the market leading sheet metal estimating packages in the world. Shortly thereafter, its success eventually led to the expansion of its capabilities. With technology constantly moving forward and with industries demands on the rise, it was time for something else to be born to push the technological boundaries that then existed. Rather than just managing the quoting process, a system that undertook the entire workflow process, from the initial enquiry all the way through to shipping and invoicing was required, which is where our next story begins.

Throughout the late 80s and early 90s FabriTRAK was developed. FabriTRAK was an ERP system developed to help automate the entire process, not just the initial quoting stage. It was developed on the basis of QuoteIT, but its streamlining capabilities were now accessible to other departments within manufacturing organisations. The process was continued into sales orders, works orders, scheduling, purchasing and shipping and invoicing. Even though computers had been around for only a short time, the software itself had already endured 10 years of exposure and had been continually developed based on customer feedback.

From 1990 2006, FabriTRAK was licensed to Metalsoft and machine manufacturing giants, Amada America. Throughout this period, the softwares client base grew dramatically and became well recognised throughout the US and the UK. Although newer versions are now available, FabriTRAK is still used today by companies throughout the globe and has without doubt withstood the test of time.

2007 lead to a complete overhaul of the software and the company structure. By the end of the year, David Ferguson and Don Clutter, along with Sam Hawkes and Chris Mann here in the UK, took back all of the rights to the software, re-wrote the code, and rebranded the company. This was where MIE Solutions and MIETrak32 were created. Although now under a different name, the core values, first created in the 80s, still provided the foundations to the software. Whereas both Metalsoft and Amada America offered products and services other than FabriTRAK, MIE Solutions stood for one purpose and one purpose only, to provide a complete production control solution that was specific to the sheet metal, precision engineering and manufacturing industries. Although QuoteIT was being developed and is still available and supported, MIETrak became the companys main focus.

In 2011 MIETrak32 was subject to huge changes as it became the software we supply today, MIETrak Pro. The database was moved from the outdated FoxPro and onto the new SQL in order to improve its functionality while maintaining its speed and reliability. With SQL being so much more flexible than FoxPro, things such as the softwares reporting possibilities became nearly infinite, and the potential to add new features increased substantially. As it stands we have over 1300 users in the UK and over 10,000 worldwide with offices situated in multiple locations throughout the world. The company offers services to customers of all sizes, whether it be a 1 user system, or a multi-site and multi-national corporation.

They say that a journey says a lot about a person. Someone who has gained experience travelling the world will have an understanding and appreciation of different cultures, foods and climates. Having said that, the term been there and done it often springs to mind. The same applies to anything, whether it be a person or even a piece of software. With proven experience of maintaining a product and service that has been at the forefront of its market for over 25 years, you can be assured that you are investing in a company and a product that is built to stand the test of time. Throughout that period, there have been many highs as well as lows, but one thing is for sure, we must be doing something right to be where we are today.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Southern Manufacturing and Electronics 2016

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 16/10/2015

After our success at the show last year, MIE Solutions are pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting again at the Southern Manufacturing and Electronics show from 9^th 11^thFebruary 2016.

We would like to take this opportunity to demonstrate to you our leading ERP/MRP Production Control software ~ MIETrak Pro. This will not only reduce your costs and enhance your productivity, but can also be tailored to your companys needs, therefore, maximising your companys profits and vision.

We look forward to meeting with you and showing you a new future in Enterprise Resource Planning software.

DEMO NOW

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Supporting Apprenticeships For 10 Years!

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 09/02/2024

Congratulations to our latest apprentice Mateusz Kowalski for successfully completing his advanced IT Apprenticeship and becoming a full-time Technical Support Engineer at MIE Solutions. Over the past 12 months, Mateusz has cemented his position as a key member of the team, always working with a steely determination to succeed and an ambition to learn every aspect of the involved MIETrak Pro software. It has been a privilege to watch Mateusz grow into his role and further progress to become a member of the development team, where we have no doubt he will continue to thrive.

"My experience has been nothing short of amazing. From day one, I have been immersed in a dynamic and supportive environment where I have had the opportunity to work closely with a team of experienced professionals. This apprenticeship has allowed me to gain invaluable hands-on experience in providing technical support for MIE Solutions' software products. I have been able to assist customers with their inquiries and issues, learning from the expertise of my colleagues and receiving guidance along the way. This experience has not only deepened my understanding of the company's products and services but has also sharpened my problem-solving skills and expanded my technical knowledge. I am grateful for the solid foundation this apprenticeship has provided me in my journey towards a successful career. " Mateusz Kowalski

Our newest Apprentice Euan Lewis is now 4 months into his Advanced IT Apprenticeship and has settled into the role as a ‘technical support engineer’ with promise. From day 1 Euan has been an involved member of the team and to his credit has already developed an impressive understanding of the software and performs to the exacting standards we require in order to best serve our customers.

"My apprenticeship has served as a catalyst for both personal and professional growth. I find immense satisfaction from my role, finding fulfillment in both my work and continuous learning. I have developed invaluable skills in a range of interests, including T-SQL, database management, data handling, troubleshooting, and interpersonal communication. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn on-the-job from my colleagues, learning specific skills fit for the workplace. I look forward to developing my skills even further." Euan Lewis

It is nearly 10 years since we began our commitment to apprenticeships in order to provide accessible and specialised training to young people trying to get a foot on the employment ladder. Since then we have held an impressive 100% apprenticeship to employment rate with all our current technical support and development teams progressing through the initiative. From a business standpoint alone the time and effort spent in nurturing these apprentices has been rewarded tenfold, but it is the pride we feel in the team we have developed today and the success they have achieved that is the biggest reward for us.

At MIE Solutions we are firmly committed to investing in the future of the younger generations. We actively encourage other like-minded companies to do the same, to ensure educational opportunities and entry into the workplace are accessible for any young person with the drive to succeed.

WE ARE HIRING!

We are excited to be continuing our commitment to apprenticeships and are currently looking to recruit a hard-working individual with a desire to develop in the software industry whilst working alongside the MIE Solutions team. Please contact sales@mie-solutions.co.uk for more information.

Make quoting consistent, efficient and traceable

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 11/11/2015

Quoting is a very important part of any business as it is most commonly the first step in securing a sale. The way in which people quote will vary from business to business, and so being able to adapt a quoting system to suit your quoting processes is key. The ability to make quoting consistent, efficient and traceable will help you streamline your business along with giving you the ammunition to make informed business decisions. With so many systems to choose from, it is hard to distinguish the difference between them. We have put together the three main outcomes you should expect to see from using quoting software.

Consistency is the key. Making quoting consistent is every sales managers dream. It would be ideal if every employee that works within estimating had years upon years of experience when it comes to quoting in the industry you trade in. Unfortunately, this is not very often the case, and so giving the less experienced members the ability to produce a quote to that high standard is essential. This can be accomplished in many ways through a quoting system. First off, having a quoting system as a central hub gives users the ability to look at past quotes in order to help them produce new ones. A word of advice, try and find a system that has the ability to input search criteria other than a fancy internal number. There is nothing worse than trying to find that bracket you quoted and realising that you have to go through pages and pages of item codes in order to find it. The point Im trying got make is that if its called a bracket, make sure you can search the term bracket in order to find it. Another thing that should be considered is the ability to use customised formulas in order to produce quotes. These could be as simple as a minute per part formula, or more advanced such as one that takes the feed rate of a machine and the material thickness into account when quoting a sheet metal job, for example. Using this theory, it doesnt matter who inputs the sizes and quantities as everyone will get the exact same result.

Being efficiency = being effective. Speeding up the quoting process is only going to improve a business as a whole. At the same time, improving efficiency should have no affect on the quality of quotations produced. Simple things such as being able to copy quotes that have already been produced, and to then give them a nip and a tuck should be a standard expectation. As touched on with the consistency side of things, having the ability to use customised formulas will only speed up the process as less manual calculations are required. Following on from that point, having something such as a DXF analyser in place will eradicate manual entry and also eliminate any data entry mistakes. Long gone are the days of exporting a quotation letter to then have to manually attach it to an email. The sending of quotation letters can be done at the click of a button and can be sent directly to a particular person within a customers organisation. Its always a sigh of relief and a sense of achievement when your customer turns around and tells you they would like to place the order, but what do you do when they ask you for an expected delivery date? This is where being able to forecast the quote immediately becomes very helpful. This must one of the most frequently asked questions within the manufacturing industry and youd be surprised as to how many quoting systems do not have this feature! Reporting back on quotations can help you make informed business decisions. With the traceability factor in use, you can report back on things such as quotation capture rates and also how long it takes to produce quotes. You may find that your estimators are taking longer than they should be to produce quotes, or even that your prices for a certain customer are too expensive due to a lack of converted quotes.

The traceability tree. The ability to trace quotes is something you should expect to see in any old system. The thing you do have to consider though is the detail of that traceability as it will vary from system to system. The advantage of computer systems in this day and age is that the traceability factor is more commonly an automated process that requires very little human intervention. Many companies will have a workflow process whereby the RFQ (request for quote) is received by the receptionist who then merely logs the request and assigns the production of the quote to an estimator. This request should then appear on that estimators start screen and warn them once the required date is fast approaching. Once produced and sent, it is of huge benefit to be able to associate tasks to the quote. An example may be to follow the quote up to see if the customer wishes to go ahead. Throughout this entire process, the system should be automatically creating a log of who has done what, and when. The ability to associate multiple quotes to one quote letter is also something that is very useful, especially when dealing with customers you often quote for. There may be cases where you are involved in quoting sections of large projects, and so the functionality of project ID and budget allocation can come into play. The traceability element of quoting can also be used further down the line. If materials from certain suppliers have been used or if jobs have been quoted on specific machines, the system will purchase and schedule accordingly.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

We are offering a hamper worth £150.00 to any enquiries at the show resulting in an order!

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 28/04/2016

Visit stand 114 at this year's Made In The Midlands Exhibition where MIE Solutions UK Ltd will be offering a hamper worth £150.00 to any enquiries at the show resulting in an order.

We look forward to showing you our product MIETrak Pro!

Forecasting for manufacturers

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 14/11/2016

The reason for demand for certain products differs from industry and industry. So many factors can play a part in demand with some being more predictable than others. One of the most common influences are seasons. Some products are better suited for certain times throughout the year. For example, the sales of barbeques are generally higher in the summer whereas the sales for heaters normally peak during the cold winter months. Another prime example of something that can affect demand is marketing. Your company may be about to publish a new advert in the industrys leading magazine and so the awareness of your product or service will increase.

For companies that manufacture these types of products, having the ability to forecast for these busier times of year is essential. Forecasts are quite often based on analysis from previous years. Below are three of the main benefits gained by using forecasts;

- How will the increased demand affect my manufacturing capacity? An increase in demand is generally a good thing for any company, but making sure you have the capacity to deal with the potential influx of orders is just as important. You may come to realise that you need to increase your labour or machinery capacity. Being able to adjust to this requirement may take a while due to new employee training or new machinery installation, and so having the visibility months in advanced is of paramount importance.

- How much more in terms of raw materials will I have to purchase? Before anything else can take place you need to make sure that you have enough raw materials to cover the potential increase in demand. This should also include the materials required to make subcomponents that are then assembled to make the finished item. Planning months in advanced can be advantageous from a purchasing perspective, especially for companies that have a quick manufacturing turnover. The last thing you want is a sudden increase in raw material demand that is hindered by the unplanned inability to get enough raw materials to your shop floor in time.

- How much will my turnover increase by in the busier months? For some companies the increase in demand throughout certain times of the year is what keeps them afloat. Going back to the example at the beginning, a company that manufacturers barbeques are going to be heavily reliant on their sales during the warmer months. Being able to plan in advanced as to how much they expect to make during this period can help make decisions on how they are going to run their company. It may be that due to a fall in demand they may have to increase their prices to maintain profitability.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

What are you getting for your software support?

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 04/03/2016

The two main contributing factors to the cost of a new ERP system are the purchase price of the software itself but also the support contract that comes along with it. Companies are quite often so focused on the capabilities on the software itself that they almost completely forget about the support and how important it will be after the initial installation. Software providers have different ways of structuring their annual support contracts, so be sure to ask how it works and what is included.

 Is it infinite or tiered support? This is a very important concept that must be completely understood as it could come back to haunt you if not considered properly. Some software providers still offer a tiered support structure. To put it simply, different tiers entitle you to different levels of support. These are often defined by call limits, email limits and even content restrictions. Infinite support on the other hand speaks for itself. It gives users full access to the support desk, enabling them to make as many calls and emails as they wish, at no extra charge.

 How much are you paying for your support? Again, a very important factor to consider. Software providers offer different approaches towards this. Some base it on a percentage of the original sale, some base it on a per user charge, while others base it on the tier of support that you are on. Be sure to ask what the implications are of adding extra users and even question how prices have fluctuated in recent years. For providers that offer ERP systems in modular format, find out how adding more modules at a later date can affect the cost of your support contract.

 Development and report changes. Technology in this day and age is always on the move. Ways of thinking and the abilities of computer systems are forever advancing and so should your ERP system. Development should contribute to an important part of your final decision. The purchase of an ERP system can be compared to the purchase of a property as it is an investment that should endure the test of time. By this I mean it should meet your immediate criteria but you should also take into account what may be needed in the years to come. Questions such as how often are new builds released, are you entitled to new builds free of charge, and how feature requests are made are important to ask. Overtime, not only will technology move forwards, but so will your company ~ there is a good chance that at some point you will need reports created or modified. Again, find out if these changes are covered in your support contract, or if you have to pay extra for each change.

 Customer care. There is nothing worse than ringing someone for support and finding them to be unhelpful or sometimes even clueless towards your problem. Being able to determine the level of customer care before actually committing to a provider can be difficult. One thing you can do is to ask the software provider for a list of their customers who you can contact directly as a point of reference. These people are in a good position to give you a review of the companys support. Be sure to ask questions such as how long report modifications and issues take to resolve, along with how competent they are in discussing issues and workflows that are relevant to your company. Amongst the customer list that the software provider has sent you, try and find companies that trade in the same or very similar industry. The last thing you want to be is a guinea pig for that provider as they try and expand into a new sector!

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

ERP for SMW

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 02/12/2015

Enterprise Resource Planning for Sheet Metal Work. These two terms in the same sentence is a rare occurrence. The reason being is that like many industries, the sheet metal trade has a process flow that is unique in many ways. Finding an ERP system specifically designed for the industry you work in is so important. Putting a non specific system in place is like putting a paper boat in water, it will float for a short amount of time but will eventually sink and fall short of its purpose. Finding ERP suited to sheet metal can be as hard as finding a needle in a hay stack and so we have put together some things to consider when trying to find a specific system;

- We quote in this but purchase in that, they call it this but we call it that. These two points are key for me, not only in the world of sheet metal, but in any industry that is heavy in terms of raw materials. The first point refers to unit of measure. There are still cases where sheet metal suppliers will sell sheets in tons. Thats all fine, but what happens when I receive those sheets in? How am I to know how many sheets I should be expecting if the supplier has told me I have ordered two tons? Having a unit of measure set is a simple tool that is very effective but often overlooked by ERP suppliers. On the topic of suppliers, it will again quite often be the case that you and your supplier have different names for one item. You may call it a Hank bush, where they may call it a Rivet Bush. Being able to create a purchase order that automatically uses their terminology, but then links back to what you refer to it as is a must.

- Off cuts can be reused and do carry value, do not lose track of them! Whereas the point above is quite generic, this point is very sheet metal industry specific. As much as we would love to be 100% efficient with material utilisation, the reality is that we are often left with off cuts that are a by-product of a completed job. We refer to off cuts as remnants. The ability to be able to put remnants back into stock is key, as these can then be used for both quoting purposes and physical consumption for other jobs.

- Group jobs to improve utilisation and save time. Work order nesting must be every sheet metal workers best friend. Grouping jobs that consume a common material can both save time and also improve your material utilisation. Reducing time and also making better use of material is only going to do one thing and thats save money.

- Search the Google way. Can you imagine trying to navigate your way through Google by first selecting the category, and then sub category, and then the sub category below that..... You would be there for days. With that said, you should expect to see the same in ERP software. As time progresses, your databases, whether it be your materials or your customers/suppliers, is going to get quite large and tiresome to go through one-by-one. Having the functionality of a dynamic key search will save so much time you would find it hard to believe. It also eliminates the need for items to be entered in a universal fashion. The point Im trying to make is that it doesnt matter if you call it CR4 Mild Steel or Mild Steel CR4, you will be able to find it regardless. Contradicting that slightly, also having the ability to search things via a category tree can be helpful in certain situations and so should also be available.

- Used by production people as well as being supported by production people. Would you allow an experience baker to construct a building the size of the Eiffel tower with no professional help? The answer is obviously no. Having said that, it should be no different with the supply and support of software. Having people on the end of the phone that understand your industry as well as the software you use is a must. This also comes into play when implementing the software in the first place. A lot of companies have long implementation plans that are quite often unnecessary. They can sometimes be a disguise that gives the software supplier time to educate themselves on what you do. The implementation itself forms the foundations as to how the system will function for you. Get that wrong, and as we know, anything without correct foundations will come crashing down.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Quoting and costing methods

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 26/01/2016

Quoting and costing methods

Quoting is commonly the first process required in order to receive a sales order. Companies go about quoting their products and services differently. There is no right or wrong way as long as you are making profit and the product is as it should be. Manufacturers quoting methods are often determined by a range of factors. One of the main and most common influences is your competition. Going head to head with other manufacturers in order to win a job often drives prices down, and so in order to win the job you may have to forfeit some of your profit margin. On the other hand, some manufacturers costing method is driven by the industry itself. They may have patent on a unique product that sits in a niche market of its own, meaning that they can determine its pricing structure.

A common method used by manufacturers for quoting is to use the cost of making the product and then add either a mark up or a margin. The cost of making the product can consist of things such as the raw materials used, machine overheads, employee overheads and even any specialist tooling. Quoting in this way allows you to always see how your costs compare to your sell price, and so give you the ability to cut prices to a reasonable degree and make informed decisions. You do, on the other hand, have to put detail in as you are applying your profits based on the cost of how long something is going to take along with whats consumed to make it.

So whats the difference between markup and margin you ask? They are terms that sound very similar but do in fact produce completely different outcomes. Mark up is the amount by which the cost of a product is increased in order to derive a selling price. For example, if we have an item that cost us £70 to manufacture, and we apply a markup of £30, we get a sell price of £100, which is a markup of 42.9%. The calculation for the mark up % = (mark up / cost to manufacture) x 100. On the other hand, margin is the sell price minus the cost of the goods sold. Using the same example as before, our item sells at £100 and costs £70 to manufacture, its margin is £30, or as a percentage, 30%. The calculation for the margin % = (margin / sell price) x 100. So as you can see, we have the same cost of manufacture and sell price, but two completely different percentages.

So the method above can be very useful if you are quoting bespoke items as you can always ensure you have money in the job. But what if you have a product range that is commonly sold and has a set price structure? Another method is using a recommended retail price as a platform. Companies will often then apply different discounts to the retail price, taking into account factors such as the quantity quoted along with the monthly expenditure of the customer who has requested the quote.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Knowing your KPI’s with MIE Trak Pro

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 05/11/2019

Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) used to be a term that was often only associated with large corporations that had entire teams of analysts whose sole purpose was to create and then analyse company data. This data would then be used to further improve the company’s efficiency and enable them to set future goals.

Fast forward 10 years and this sort of data is now easily accessible to every company - whether they are corporate giants or privately owned businesses - all at a reasonable price in the form of an MRP / ERP system.

A lot of markets in recent years have become very price driven, partly due to the fact that medium to small sized businesses are now running their day to day operations more efficiently. The number of KPIs available are nearly infinite, different companies efficiencies come from different aspects of their operations, but there are a few sought after pieces of information that are common and relevant to the majority.

Quotation capture rates

Have you ever wondered how many quotes you have won and lost for a particular customer? On top of that, have you ever looked into why you lost the job? The answer is quite possibly no.

It is easy to assume that if a customer has said no to a quotation that you have sent them that there is nothing you can do about it and that it’s out of your hands - this is where KPIs can be of huge benefit. For example, you may find that you are constantly losing quotes that are sent to a particular customer based on the price you are able to offer.

For one-off jobs there may be nothing you can do about the price that would make any further discounts worth it, but by using KPIs you may realise that you have lost out on several quotes that when added together have a value of hundreds of thousands of pounds, and knowing that, you may come to realise that dropping your price per unit further may actually be worth it in the long run.

Sales Order book

A sales order book is, in theory, a very basic KPI, but one that’s sometimes not used to its full potential. The sales generated by a company are what keeps it going, but it can also give you a lot of information back which can help you improve your business further.

A common piece of information that is extracted from a sales order book is the actual spend of each individual customer. This in turn can be used for things such as capacity planning. You may have a customer that makes up for a large part of your turnover and so they are the last person you would want to upset. Making their orders a priority when scheduling jobs on the shop floor may be of paramount importance.

The sales order book can also be used to identify customer spend within certain geographical areas; you may come to realise that you aren’t dealing with many companies within close proximity. If profit margins are tight, dealing with companies close by may be worth looking at as non-manufacturing related costs such as deliveries are naturally going to be much lower. Also, with this information, you may identify that you deal with very few customers in a particular area that has a large industrial base. Taking this into consideration, it might be worth sending a sales rep there in order to try and expand your customer base.

Purchasing order book and receivers

In the same way that a sales order book gives you information on turnover, a purchase order book will give you information on expenditure. Other than giving you the basic expenditure with each supplier, the purchase order book can also be very useful for other pieces of information that can help determine how and where you purchase from in the future. You may find that you are purchasing the same materials from different suppliers and are therefore quite possibly paying more than you would if you were to buy it all from one supplier.

The receiving’s data can also be very useful and help you determine where future purchases are made. By comparing basic information such as the expected delivery date against the actual delivery date, you’ll easily be able to paint a picture of which suppliers are more efficient than others in getting their products to your doorstep on time. Drilling down even further, you may find that certain suppliers are slower in getting certain products to you than others. This may be due to that fact that only a small proportion of their transport fleet is capable of carrying larger items meaning you are having to wait for their trucks to become available.

As mentioned before, the possibilities with KPI’s are nearly infinite and I’d never finish writing this article if I were to try and describe even half of them. The main thing to remember is that they aren’t just pretty graphs that snapshot whether you are successful or not at that moment in time, they are highly valuable pieces of information that can be taken to any degree of complexity and should be considered when making decisions on how you wish to move your company forward.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Project Management

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 11/10/2016

Having the ability to manage projects as whole is becoming more and more important for companies as industries become ever more competitive. The effectiveness of being able to view and keep of control of jobs as a whole once they have been won can help determine a companys reputation, profitability and can influence the likelihood of winning future contracts.

The reason for project management is very simple yet very effective. A project can consist of numerous parts that can be called off over long spans of time. Having all of these transactions associated under one project gives you access to an array of information that can be both manipulated and analysed to ensure the smooth processing of the current project along with aiding the planning process of future ones. Below are two of the many benefits that you can get out of effective project management:

- Staying within budget. The aim of every project is to make money and also ensure that you end up within reasonable accuracy based on your original budget. Data from previous projects that are of a similar nature can go a long way in helping you make sure you set realistic targets. If you tell a customer that you predict a project will cost £20,000 and you finish up under budget, then you will stand in good stead for potentially winning their repeat business. On the other hand, if you tell them you predict a project will cost £20,000 and you finish up over budget, your customer may start to question your experience and project management skills.

- Ensuring all sources are the same. So lets say you have won a contract to supply the balconies to an entire new housing complex. Due to building regulations, there is a high possibility that you are required to comply with certain sourcing regulations. It may be that the raw materials may have to be sourced from a particular place or they may even have to come from a common batch. Having reference to this information by being able to directly see purchase orders and works orders that have been raised for that particular project. The same principles can be applied to internal project managers or even external contractors.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

The importance of implementation

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 29/10/2015

A large number of ERP implementations fail at the very first hurdle. It is common knowledge that the implementation of such a system will not happen overnight, but why is the failure figure so high? ERP software solutions are slowly becoming the industry standard as technology continues to advance and competitors continue to invest, so you would think that the introduction of such systems should be common practice. We have put together three things to consider when it comes to the implementation of an ERP system;

- The functionality of the system. There are so many different systems to choose from that all offer a different perspective when it comes to ERP. Choosing a system to suit your exact needs is a must as if you get this wrong, it is only going to go one way, and thats downhill. Different packages offer different core features and are driven by different values and theories. For example, some are very good at handling financials and the accounting side of things, whereas others prosper when it comes to the front end of the system such as CRM (customer relationship management). MIETrak Pro is predominately production, reporting and costing driven. We can export financials that are then handled by an independent third party accounts packages. We have a basic CRM system in place but also integrate with CRM specialists Workbooks for the people who require more depth in this area. Here at MIE we are production people and so thats why we keep to what we know and declare ourselves as a production control specific package.

- Be sure of the cost. I cannot outline this point enough. The amount of times I have personally walked into a manufacturing company to find that they have spent tens and even sometimes hundreds of thousands on an ERP system that is still sat in a box is untrue. According to a Panorama ERP Study, 74.1% of ERP projects exceed budget so make sure you are clear of the financial implications from the offset. Be sure to question things such as the structure of the software (modular or complete), potential charges for report changes and find out if the company have a tiered based support contract. Of course I can only speak on behalf of MIE and the way we do business. Report changes are covered by your annual support contract and we do not have a tiered system. Once on support, our support team is at your disposal to whatever extent you require. The system itself comes as a complete package so there are no bolt-ons, and once you have purchased the software its yours.

- Speak to people in your shoes. So you have just had a demonstration by a potential ERP supplier that went well and they answered yes to every question you threw their way. Great, sounds to me like you may have just met one of a thousand software sales reps trying to make a living. Im not trying to say every sales rep will try and miss sell you something, but at the end of the day they are there to try and secure a deal. First things first, get them to show you there and then that it can do what they say it can do. Also, be sure to cross reference what they say they can do with people who actually use the system on a daily basis. Make sure to ask for a list of references that you can contact directly for an unbiased opinion and try and speak to companies who work within the same industry. Generally if it works for them, there is a high chance it will work for you. According to Mint Jutras, a staggering 67% of companies reported that they needed a solution with more industry-specific functionality than their current ERP system. As Im sure you will agree, this statistic alone makes the point I have just highlighted a major priority.

The general rule of thumb when looking at such an investment is to take your time. Make sure you have all of your questions answered as once you have committed, it is very hard to turn back and go elsewhere.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

A Year In Review & A Look To 2024

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 15/12/2023

Firstly let us begin by wishing our fellow manufacturing community a very happy Christmas and a well deserved festive break!

As a challenging yet rewarding 2023 draws to an end, it is with excitement that we look forward to the fresh business opportunities on the horizon for 2024. At MIE Solutions we would like to thank all of those whom we have worked with and that have supported us this past year, helping us to once again grow the MIETrak Pro brand and further cement our position as one of the market leaders in the manufacturing ERP sector.

So what’s in store for 2024 at MIE Solutions? Well much of the same - just bigger and better than ever! The global ERP market is booming with more and more manufacturers turning to software such as MIETrak Pro. The number of companies looking to leverage real-time data and automation in order to facilitate pro-active decision making and agile manufacturing is set to grow by 20%. We are also expecting to see a growing demand of manufacturers opting for shop floor data capture options as a way of incorporating paperless production and continued migration to cloud hosted ERP over traditional servers.

As we have all seen in the past year, technology is developing at lightning speed, continuing to automate manual and laborious tasks freeing up human capital for jobs that require more skill. This is why last year we continued our commitment to evaluate and evolve by both growing and restructuring our team to create a brand new in house development department. As we look to 2024 we now have more capabilities than ever before to assist British manufacturers and Engineers in this digital revolution, providing not only our award-winning ERP solution but under-pinning this with a world-class support and development team at the forefront of new technologies and benefitting from real manufacturing knowledge.

After talking with many of our customers who have successfully battled their way through 2023, with rising costs of wages, materials, and fuels to name but a few, it is encouraging to see a tale of growth among many. We are rewarded in the knowledge that MIETrak Pro has played a pivotal role in helping hundreds of British manufacturers navigate turbulent waters, and excited at the prospect of once again supporting these formidable businesses in 2024 as they grow into the more advanced modules of MIEtrak Pro.

We have always enjoyed the opportunity to exhibit at the Subcon and Southern Manufacturing shows, as a way of interacting with many of our existing customers but also as an opportunity to demonstrate our ERP solution and forge new industry connections, and we are pleased to announce that we will once again be attending both shows in 2024. If you are a manufacturing or engineering company looking to implement ERP next year, then these shows are a fantastic way for you to compare the different ERP packages that are available but also just as importantly to meet some of the team behind them

We would like to end the year wishing everyone a very happy Xmas and a prosperous New Year

MIETrak Pro shows its versatility with another success story from Kiyokuni Europe Ltd

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 25/09/2019

Kiyokuni Europe Limited was established in 1987 as part of the Japanese owned, Kiyokuni Group. They have been manufacturing metal pressings and assemblies for over 30 years, and now occupy a 7,100m², purpose built factory in Telford, Shropshire, offering a one-stop solution for its customers that includes design, prototype, manufacture and finish.

Simon Pease - IT / Purchasing / Planning Manager states:

"The main reason for this choice was, as an accredited TS16949 Tier 2 Automotive supplier, we had to make sure that any new system provided the traceability and control that this standard requires and MIETrak Pro offers both.

MIETrak Pro has given us the ability to take several standalone systems and incorporate them into one making it much easier to share information between employees at all levels. This has enabled us to move to totally live production bookings on the Shop Floor (via Kiosk) and live stock movements (via Barcode Scanner Server). This has improved stock accuracy as problems can be resolved at source and this leads to enhanced MRP’s effectiveness.

MRP is the main driver for our business and MIE Solutions were open to develop their MRP system to one that I firmly believe is now World Class, not only proposing POs / WOs to meet demand but also suggesting move proposals for existing orders as customer demand changes, either short term or long term.

The system is very cost effective, especially when compared to other like for like systems on the market today, but this in no way compromises what MIETrak Pro delivers. The reporting systems are excellent via Quick View Reports and if we’ve been unsure how to create a report MIE Solutions have been more than happy to assist us.

Support / training is of a very high standard, quick response, excellent problem solving and very professional. MIETrak Pro has evolved in the time that we’ve been using the system with enhancements, some that we use, some that we don’t, but it’s predominantly our choice and timescale which is very comforting

Whilst Kiyokuni Europe Limited is not a sheet metal manufacturer, MIETrak Pro has seamlessly replaced our old ERP system within our manufacturing environment where we use multi level BOMs and Cellular production units. I am more than happy to discuss Kiyokuni’s experiences with MIETrak Pro from the selection process to going live – My contact details are available from MIE Solutions UK Ltd."

About MIE Solutions

MIE Solutions is a worldwide leading supplier of advanced technology for the manufacturing community. We offer a variety of innovative software products for integrating business data, allowing organizations to make informed decisions for streamlining their business processes, resulting in maximum efficiency and immediate ROI. Companies of all sizes have used our products to bring their business to the next level, improving their manufacturing productivity and quality.

Contact us today for a free, no obligation demonstration!

01527 576 444
sales@mie-solutions.co.uk
www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Quality Control Explained

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 11/01/2016

Quality Control is a large part of many companies workflow processes. With a growing number of industries requiring some sort of quality control compliance, it is compulsory that you understand the concept fully. Accreditations such as ISO9001 require companies to follow a set out guideline that consists heavily on quality control.

We have compiled together some key areas to consider:

 Discrepancy. This refers to immediate details of the problem. It would quite often be the case that your customer would ring up and give you information as to why they have rejected the item. You are also able to document detail as to how many have been authorised for return, along with reject information such as reject types and responsible parties.

 Credit/Billing. This refers to any financial implications as a result of the reject. From here you would raise credit notes.

 Containment Action. Containment action is precisely what it says on the tin. It refers to information regarding how we are going to contain the problem and stop it from affecting other units.

 Disposition. You have had parts sent back to you. What are you going to do with them? Examples would be correcting the item in the form of a rework, or possibly scrapping it as it is unusable. At this stage, you can also determine information such as failure types.

 Root Cause Analysis. A common term used with quality control and root cause analysis is the 5 whys. This enables users to go into multiple levels of detail in order to find the original source of the problem.

 Corrective-Preventive Action. So we have identified the problem, now how are we going to stop it from happening again? For example, this could be a problem with the original cutting program, and so a corrective action would be to correct the program used.

 Follow Up. Again, pretty self explanatory. This refers to any follow ups you wish to carry out to ensure that the original issue no longer exists. At this stage you may come to the conclusion that the problem no longer exists, meaning no further action is required, or that the action you have taken has not eradicated the problem.

-Inspection. Setting inspection criteria is often required of companies that comply with certain industry standards. This can refer to checks such as tolerances on dimensions, or even visual checks to ensure items are as they should be. The frequency of your inspections can also vary, you may wish to check every item, or may be every 1 in 10.

Quality control can play a huge part to the success of manufacturing companies. If recorded correctly, it can help in terms saving time and money. Setting out a process can also aid you in achieving certain accreditations that can set your company apart from the rest.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Another successful ERP Implementation for MIETrak Pro With Bacon Engineering

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 15/01/2024

There are very few Engineering companies today that can boast a heritage as rich as Bacon Engineering. Next year they celebrate 125 years in business with a 5th-generation Bacon family member at the helm David Bacon along with operations director Darren Glew. Their story is one of twists and turns, evolving from a trawler operator in the heyday of the Grimsby fishing industry, into the modern and progressive engineering company that today has established itself as a trusted partner across an array of sectors, including chemical, construction, food, marine, and energy/ renewables to name just a few.

In the past 7-8 years, the business has been through a significant period of modernisation, moving to new larger premises on the Humberside Industrial Estate and replacing most of its old machinery with state-of-the-art CNC equipment, growing a highly capable Fabrication team with a range of codings, whilst diversifying into drone and laser scanning technology. In June 2023, Bacon Engineering implemented MIE Trak Pro ERP software believing this would take the company to the ‘next level and beyond’, leaving behind the final administrative remnants of their ‘old-fashioned family-run business’ structure.

After identifying the need for ERP software in today's competitive manufacturing industry, Bacon Engineering began a period of market research, searching both online and speaking with industry peers to produce a shortlist of 4 ERP providers. All were then demoed and tested against their specific requirements and MIE Trak Pro was selected as being the most comprehensive. ‘The deciding factor for us was a trusted partner of ours are already MIE Trak users, and so we were able to really pick their brains on the system and their experiences giving us confidence that MIE Trak Pro claims met its abilities’, comments managing director David Bacon.

After selecting MIE Trak Pro as their ERP provider, Bacon Engineering next looked to the implementation process. David explains how they approached this next stage ‘The biggest challenge we faced was to create the headspace within the business to learn and understand the system. This is difficult within a small business when resources are lean but ultimately we had to remember that MIETrak was acquired to improve our efficiencies and processes, so we began appointing super users and focused on rolling the system out 1 team at a time. The expertise of the MIE Solutions team has played a crucial role in our success. We have felt supported every step of the way and I recommend the team for their responsiveness to our needs’.

MIE Trak Pro is a complete modular software package designed specifically for the sheet metal and engineering industry, managing everything from initial customer inquiry through to invoice and shipping and everything in between. The biggest advantage for Bacon Engineering since installation is the software's advanced analytics and data collection abilities. ‘This is a massive step forward for us, as it now allows us to make evidence-based decisions across a far broader range of business functions that we couldn't have done previously. We now have a single system across the entire business containing our quoting and performance data which is proving a game changer’. The next big step for the company is to fully utilise the ‘scheduling module’ of MIE Trak Pro to which David says ‘they cannot wait.‘

Bacon Engineering’s period of modernisation is realised with the incorporation of MIE Trak Pro into daily operations. With a whole host of modules for the company to grow into and with the continued support from the MIE team, the sky is the limit for this dynamic and progressive engineering business.

Case Study- Advanced Engineering Choose MIETrak Pro

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 13/11/2023

Based in Birmingham, Advanced Engineering (UK) Ltd are leading providers of multi-axis precision engineering solutions. The company has been operating for over 40 years and has catered to the automotive, motorsport, aerospace, defence, rail, and nuclear sectors. The company’s ethos has been based on continual investment in machinery in order to maintain its place at the forefront of the industry.

As part of the company’s growth strategy, in 2018 they identified their existing ERP system as being an area of the business that needed to be reviewed. Marc Pedley, Director, explains why they made the decision to look elsewhere; “Our existing system did not offer the flexibility that a company like ours requires. We also had several processes which were managed outside of the system and so we wanted to bring everything together and centralise all of the company’s operations into one central database”.

Advanced Engineering UK invited several vendors in, including MIE Solutions, to demonstrate their ERP software. The decision was eventually made to go with MIE Solutions and their ERP package – MIE Trak Pro.

Marc Pedley explains one of the reasons why MIE Trak Pro was chosen; “One of our key requirements was to have an integrated estimating module which our existing ERP system did not offer. Due to MIE Trak Pro being developed specifically for our industry, it was clear that this area alone was tailored to the way we work and replicated a system we had previously custom-developed. As a result, we were able to streamline our process for managing enquiries and also eliminated the double entry which previously took place when an enquiry became an order.”

As with any ERP implementation, the ongoing support plays a critical role in successfully deploying the software throughout the company. MIE Solutions’ support team are always on hand to assist with additional support and Advanced Engineering UK have continued to reap the benefits of being able to receive instant assistance when required. Marc Pedley adds: “The support team at MIE Solutions have unrivaled product and industry knowledge and are always on hand to help. Our annual support contract includes the creation and amending of reports and dashboards and so if we do need changes making, the team is on hand to help at no additional cost”.

MIE Solutions’ multi-award-winning MIE Trak Pro is a complete ERP package which has been designed specifically for sheet metal fabricators, machine shops, and manufacturers. The system's end-to-end solution manages everything from initial enquiry through to finance and offers optional external links to 3rd party accounts packages.

To find out more about MIE Solutions UK, you can contact a member of their team via the website https://mie-solutions.co.uk/ or by email sales@mie-solutions.co.uk.
To find out more about Advanced Engineering UK, you can contact a member of their team via the website – http://ae-uk.net/ or by email sales@ae-uk.net.

Inspection, Contract Review & FAIR's Items

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 19/09/2016

Following strict procedures and process flows are vital when your company is required to keep in line with certain accreditations. Even the most common and recognised accreditations, such as ISO9001 and AS9100, demand strict compliance on certain areas of quality. A lot of accreditations are written based around ERP/MRP systems, so certain aspects should be considered when choosing a system in the first place.

- FAIRs (First Article Inspection Report) Items. So you have taken on a bespoke job but the first item of the batch requires a First Article Inspection Report. The main purpose for a First Article Inspection Report is to provide objective evidence that all engineering design and specification requirements are properly understood, accounted for, verified and documented. A common practice is to compare the dimensions of the item against that of the drawing to ensure that once in mass production, the item is made correctly to the given specification. Having the ability to distinguish and flag FAIRs items is a must.

- Contract Review. Sometimes the reasons for Contract Reviews and FAIRs cross over slightly but they can be distinguished by a simple difference. Whereas FAIRs only relate to the item itself, Contract Reviews look at the bigger picture. They are generally a set of questions that must be followed through and that document other aspects of the sale, including things such as the legalities. Having the ability to create your own templates and force them is paramount as every company will have their own unique criteria.

- Inspection. The ability to log inspections is key and is prominent throughout many processes. Abiding by and keeping a log of dimensional tolerances as an item progresses through the manufacturing process, especially for intricate parts that have a very low variable range, can be very important. Inspection can also be of paramount importance when receiving goods in. Features such as having the ability to log 100% inspection; the process of logging whether each individual item has been accepted or rejected on receival, should be something that is considered.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

ERP Eliminates Bottlenecks In Manufacturing

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 09/08/2023

MIE Solutions ERP software MIETrak Pro has been revolutionizing the way manufacturers operate their businesses. With its ability to integrate various business processes and data into a centralized platform, our system has proven to be incredibly effective in eliminating bottlenecks in the manufacturing process.

Bottlenecks are common in manufacturing, and they occur when a particular process or resource slows down the overall production line. This can result in delays, increased costs, and decreased customer satisfaction. However, the MIETrak Pro ERP system offers several features and functionalities that can effectively address these bottlenecks.

real-time visibility

This visibility enables manufacturers to identify bottlenecks as soon as they occur, allowing for immediate action to be taken. By monitoring the production line, MIETrak can detect any slowdowns or inefficiencies, allowing manufacturers to make necessary adjustments to optimize productivity.

Automations & Intergration

From procurement and inventory management to production planning and scheduling. Automation reduces the likelihood of human errors and speeds up the entire production cycle, minimizing bottlenecks that may arise from manual processes. This way, manufacturers can avoid delays caused by miscommunication, data entry mistakes, or insufficient coordination among different departments.

Scheduling

Manufacturers often encounter bottlenecks due to inadequate resource allocation or shortages of raw materials, equipment, or skilled labor. MIETrak Pro has advanced planning capabilities that enable manufacturers to accurately forecast demand, match it with available resources, and ensure the smooth flow of materials and personnel. With MIETrak, manufacturers can anticipate potential bottlenecks and proactively address them, reducing downtime and improving overall efficiency.

Analytics & KPI's

MIETrak Pro provides valuable insights and analytics that empower manufacturers to make informed decisions. By leveraging historical data and real-time information, the software can identify patterns and trends in manufacturing processes, enabling manufacturers to optimize their operations further. With access to detailed reports and key performance indicators, manufacturers can identify bottlenecks, assess their impact on production, and implement targeted solutions to eliminate them.

Shopfloor Data Capture

Through a centralized platform, the system will facilitate the sharing of information, reducing delays caused by information silos or lack of coordination. For example, if there is a bottleneck in the production line, MIETrak Pro allows relevant departments, such as procurement or quality control, to be immediately notified, enabling them to take prompt action and minimize the impact on overall production.

WorldClass UK Support Desk

MIE Solutions UK support desk are experts in this intuitive software but also benefit from a manufacturing background and understanding of process. Access to such a wealth of knowledge will significantly reduce downtime and productivity losses. With a team of experts available to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues promptly, you can minimize downtime and ensure that your employees can continue working efficiently without unnecessary interruptions.

In conclusion, MIE Solutions best in class ERP software MIETrak Pro has proven to be an invaluable tool in overcoming bottlenecks in manufacturing. By providing real-time visibility, automating processes, optimizing resource planning, enabling data-driven decision-making, and improving communication and collaboration. Our ERP system MIETrak Pro, will play a vital role in enhancing production capabilities and driving business success for manufacturers, offering swift solutions to any bottleneck encountered in the manufacturing process.

Make a Discovery Call on 01527 576444 or email sales@mie-solutions.co.uk for a free brochure.

Check out our article in the latest addition of PES Magazine

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 15/10/2015

Head over to PES Magazine to check out our latest article - Growth and investment go hand in hand

Keep Your Finger on the Pulse of Your Business with MIE Trak Pro ERP Software

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 13/08/2019

MIETrak Pro streamlines operations across the entire workflow process and provides maximum efficiency with an immediate ROI. The leading MRP production control software tool in its class, MIETrak Pro is easy to install, implement and use.

Reduce Administration

Both wasted time and mistakes cost businesses money, so reducing or eliminating them will increase profits. One of MIETrak Pro’s main purposes is to streamline an organisation’s processes through its non-modular MRP production control solution. This is achieved through the system’s ease of use and lack of double entry – with the latter also going a long way to eliminating costly errors. With our MIE Kiosk shop floor data capture designed to accommodate a paperless environment, everything is recorded digitally meaning that the days of trawling through stacks of paper and collating endless spreadsheets that just don’t make sense are consigned to history.

Increase Profit Margins

Increased price competition in manufacturing industries has resulted in increased scrutiny of profit margins. The primary objective of any company is to make money – and to achieve this, increasing profit margins plays a significant role. MRP software solution ensures that all quotes are consistent and that profit margins are maintained across the board. MIETrak provides purchasing power in the form of MRP, the result of which is effective control of all purchasing within the organisation and value for money being ensured.

Increase Efficiency

The efficiency of a manufacturing company separates the best from the rest. MIETrak Pro’s production scheduling software; reporting, dashboards, graphs, and KPI’s ensures that all processes are carried out quickly and accurately and are recorded as such which are paramount to a company’s success. Our production planning software has endless possibilities of analytical data available from within MIETrak, users have greater visibility and are able to directly see where potential issues and shortfalls are coming from, meaning the relevant action can be taken to improve efficiency in areas of the organisation.

Improve Quality Control

Quality Control being a significant element of the workflow processes, it is Integral to our MRP ERP manufacturing software solution. With quality compliance becoming a standard industry requirement, having it as a functional part of integrated MRP software system is vital and accreditations such as ISO9001 require companies to follow set guidelines dominated by quality control. MIETrak Pro’s Quality Control feature gives users the ability to log and track issues, along with always having traceability back to the original job for manufacturing remakes.

Access Essential Data

In the fast paced world in which we now live, capturing and accessing crucial data from the shop floor in real time is essential in making effective strategic decisions. MIETrak Pro provides complete transparency and enables any piece of information to be extracted from within the production planning software system – then reproduce it in any format. This can be in the form of a report, a widget – or our dashboard facility which allows viewing of KPIs in a wide range of graphic and visual representations. Our MRP production tracking software can schedule reports to be sent to specific people at set times of the day, and users can create customised reports using Quickviews.

Increase Customer Satisfaction

Our comprehensive quoting feature, MIEQuoteIT creates consistent quotes across the board – and quotation lead times can be captured in order to ensure deadlines are maintained. MIETrak also enables users to schedule far ahead and so identify potential problems long before they actually occur. Our MRP ERP software – such as the Production Overview – use a colour-coded traffic light system to alert users immediately a job has gone over budget or past its schedule – which means that our scheduling software allows users to give timely notification to their customers in the event of any unforeseen problem.

MIE Solutions MRP will be on Stand F51 Hall 4 at SUBCON 2016. We look forward to seeing you there!

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 31/05/2016

After the success of Southern Manufacturing show, MACH and Made in the Midlands exhibitions this year MIE Solutions UK Ltd will be exhibiting our MRP Production Control Software solution at SUBCON 2016 held at the NEC Birmingham from the 7th June - 9th June 2016 ~ on stand F51.

This year SUBCON have introduced a new Software Zone dedicated to providing visualisation of MRP / ERP software solutions for the entire manufacturing sector.

MIE Solutions MRP will be on Stand F51. We will be exhibiting our product MIETrak Pro through demonstrations. We will also be happy to give advice and assistance over the three days regarding any concerns about installing/updating/ implementing an MRP software solution. We promise you its not as difficult as you may initially think!

We will also be handing out some freebies and offering a £ 150.00 hamper should any enquiries result in an order from the show! Exciting stuff!

So whether you already have a MRP system and its not quite working for you, or you are still debating on whether MRP is the way forward ~ dont be put off by thinking its more hassle than its worth! Come along and visit us on stand F51 ~ We guarantee to open your eyes to MRP Production Control software like no other ~ MIETrak Pro.

MIETrak Pro ~ is easy to install, implement and operate, with our professional and knowledgeable technical and support teams, you will be looked after from start to finish.

Its our product and we want you to appreciate and be captivated by MIETrak Pro!

So why MIE Solutions MRP?

With proven experience of maintaining a product and service that has been at the forefront of its market for over 25 years, you can be assured that you are investing in a company and a product that is built to stand the test of time. Throughout that period, there have been many highs as well as lows, but one thing is for sure, we must be doing something right to be where we are today!

MIE Solutions are one of the leading providers of MRP Production Control Software for the entire manufacturing sector. With experience in the Sheet Metal, Engineering and Fabrication Industries and with a massive worldwide presence, we have developed manufacturing software made by manufacturing professionals for manufacturing professionals. We are able to offer the complete tailored made manufacturing solution. To Include: RFQ, Quotation, Estimating, Sales Order Processing, Works Order, Router design, Purchasing, Scheduling, MRP, ERP, Shop floor data capture (SFDC) with Bar Coding, Stock Control, Time Clock/HR, Costing, Reporting and full Accounts integration, Quality Control, Preventative Maintenance and so much more.

So why is MIETrak Pro so different from other MRP/ERP systems that are available?

We offer you a complete solution, this means we offer you access to the whole ofMIETrak Pro. Whilst our software has modules, we do not sell it based on modules. We believe that MIETrak Pro can only achieve its fullest potential by being a complete package. However you may only want to use the scheduling module to begin with, thats great and will work perfectly well on its own ~ when you are ready the rest of MIETrak Pro is ready for you at no extra cost for the software.

As well as the software, we offer support for as long as you need us. Our software is continually updated to support the ever changing and demanding manufacturing industries.

We pride ourselves on being innovative and aim everyday to ensure that our product MIETrak Pro is installed in as many manufacturing industries as we possibly can.

Click here for more Information or a Demonstration on MIETrak Pro our MRP Production Control Software.

www.mie-solutions.co.uk

The MIE Approach

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 23/10/2019

Here at MIE we are celebrating our most successful year to date. MIE Trak Pro has remained at the forefront of market leading MRP/production control software solutions for manufacturers thanks to the feedback from our valued customers, our dedicated development team and our ambitious company goals (we’re currently rated 1st for discrete ERP software on G2Crowd!). We also see ourselves as unique to our competitors with the product we offer, the way we do business and the company’s ethos.

Differentiating between ERP/production control systems can be extremely difficult at a glance, so we have put together 3 main reasons as to why MIE Solutions and MIE Trak Pro are unique;

We do not sell MIE Trak Pro in modular format

There are a number of reasons for why our system is supplied as a complete package. We do not believe in having you spend money on part of a package, and then realising later on that you need another module and feeling tied down as you have already invested money in the package. What you pay from the start is it. No extra or hidden charges.

The other reason comes down to functionality. For example, how is the scheduling going to work efficiently if it is not aware of a material that has not arrived, or if a machine is down due to calibration? There are so many influential factors that can affect so many other departments so we believe the system needs to know it all in order to work at its best.

We have nothing to hide

Here at MIE, we are very transparent in the way we do business. From the initial consultation, we are honest in terms of whether we can offer you the solution you are looking for. We also openly encourage potential clients to speak to our existing customers. They are the best sales tool we have as they are the ones that were in your situation and decided to put their trust in us.

Training and implementation

Unlike a lot of other companies, we do not carry out long implementation plans that last weeks or even months. MIE Trak Pro is extremely easy to use. We have you in for a few days training and support is always available over the phone, or via our online help portal & resource hub. We also do not believe in classroom training - when you come to our office to train then the day is catered to you and you only.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

C.S.E Ltd continues to provide fabricating excellence in the science of sheet metal alongside the innovative manufacturing software of MIETrak Pro!

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 14/12/2015

CSE Ltd based in Stockport, is a specialist supplier of precision engineered sheet metal parts, fabricated frames and other components for the scientific and electronic instrument, robotics and automation sectors. Their customers are some of the most innovative and dynamic organisations in mass spectrometry and other sectors, where the ability to produce high value, high complexity, lower volume, precision engineered products to tight timescales is critical.

CSE was originally set up as the fabrication department for Linotype and Machinery Limited in 1978. The department was set up to produce the chassis and guards for the Linotron 202 photo composing machine at the time when Linotype diversified into machines with digital typefaces. Then, following the demise of the printing industry in the early 1980s, the management sought local sub contract sheet metal work to help maintain the workforce and utilise the machinery. They formed a company called Cheshire Specialist Engineering, now known as CSE, to carry out this work. CSE quickly found itself immersed in the hotbed of the mass spectrometry industry which has a notable presence in the surrounding area. A number of long-standing relationships developed, the majority of which still exist today. In recent years CSE have also moved into other scientific and electronic sectors where the ability to produce high value, high complexity, lower volume, precision engineered products to tight timescales is critical.

MIE Solutions, originally installed MIETrak back in 2004 into CSE ltd. They were the first of our customers to migrate across to MIETrak Pro in 2013. In September 2015 CSE started using the scheduling software instead of the manual loading method they had been using over many years. CSE have been busier than ever, but they have noticed a considerable reduction in their workload! CSE Ltd are continuing to thrive, by reducing workflow, in turn reducing costs and increasing profitability, Thanks to MIETrak Pro!

Mr Steve Evans; Director States;

Every manufacturing business should be installed with MIETrak Pro; from quoting to invoicing, the powerful MIETrak Pro production control software integrates and monitors all aspects of the fabrication process. MIETrak Pro provides real time management information so that we can give our clients the information they need when they need it. So, if you want efficiency, visibility, profitability and stability then MIETrak Pro is the best manufacturing software for the industry. These are exciting times for CSE and we look forward to working with existing clients and new in the years ahead, more confidently now that we have MIETrak Pro installed

For more information on CSE Ltd and the services they can provide please click here; www.cseng.co.uk

When is a company ready for an ERP system?

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 20/07/2016

ERP is often misinterpreted as a system only suited for large, multinational corporations that have been established for hundreds of years and turn over tens of millions of pounds. It is often assumed that only larger companies will reap the benefits, but the truth is quite different. ERP solutions can be just as beneficial for smaller companies, if not more so. Some questions we often get asked are;

When is a company ready for an ERP system?

This is something that can only be assessed internally and will vary from company to company. A few triggers that often make people consider ERP are;

· An increase in late deliveries

· Internal mistakes (purchases not being made on time, materials being missed etc)

· Inaccurately produced quotes

· A requirement from a potential customer (some companies will want to know they are dealing with someone who has a sophisticated IT infrastructure)

· A referral (another company has shown the benefits they have received from ERP)

· Time wasted carrying out unnecessary tasks (creating reports/ graphs in Excel, rectifying human error and double entry etc.)

· Spreadsheets getting out of control with no backups.

· Companies seeking ISO accreditation.

Do we have to turnover a certain amount per year and do we have to employ someone to run it?

In a sense there is no definitive answer for either of the above questions as there are so many factors to take into account. One major factor is the software vendor you are considering. Some packages offered by certain vendors can be very expensive and complex. In turn, these often naturally suit companies that turnover large sums of money and also those who have a dedicated internal IT department.

On the contrary, there are less expensive and more simplistic solutions out there that suit medium sized and even small sized companies. Manufacturers with even the smallest of turnovers and man power can benefit from these types of ERP. However, this isnt to say that these types of systems would not suit a larger company.

Do I need to spend serious amounts of money on hardware infrastructure to support the software?

Nowadays most software solutions are designed on platforms that are fairly light on resources. The most common platforms are Oracle and Microsoft SQL. There is no avoiding the increase in required performance as the number of concurrent users goes up but our advice would be to speak to your potential ERP provider before forking out thousands on a brand new, top of the range server as the one you currently have may be adequate.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

We're Exhibiting! Stand B230

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 29/01/2024

STAND B230

The Southern Manufacturing & Electronics show will be returning to the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre on 6-8th February 2024. The show is the biggest event in Southern England showcasing technology and innovation for UK manufacturing and its supply chain and MIE Solutions will be returning.

The exhibition offers free entry and free parking with over 600 industry suppliers all in attendance. We have exhibited at the Southern Show for many years now, relishing the opportunity to engage face-to-face with our customers and make new industry connections.

On stand B230 MIE Solutions will be offering demonstrations of the intuitive MIETrak Pro Production Control software with Operations Manager Mat Fearon and Business Developments Manager Tom Trow-Poole on hand to discuss your ERP software requirements, shop floor data capture options, or Cloud hosting services. Also representing MIE Solutions will be Sam Hawkes Sales Director and Chris Mann Technical Director who would like to welcome you to stand B230 to meet the team driving success behind the MIETrak Pro software and see firsthand why hundreds of UK Manufacturers and Engineers trust us as their ERP partners.

ERP and KPI’s

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 09/12/2015

The idea of Enterprise Resource Planning is to make your life easier in every way. Its there as a central hub of information that is live and easily dissected and manipulated. With the huge amount of data that is processed by these systems, being able to find information you want as quick as possible can be a challenge in itself. The term KPI is often thrown around, but what does it actually mean? KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator. A Key Performance Indicator is a business metric used to evaluate factors that are crucial to the success of an organisation. Different organisations will have different indicators that are fundamental to their success.

Different people in an organisation will want to see different KPI information. Having a system whereby this information is unique to each user is compulsory. Sales managers may want to see information such as how long quotations are taking to be made, or even how many quotes are being won and lost. Production managers may want to see the efficiency of employees and machines. Quality managers may want to see information referring to scrap reasons or other common quality control issues.

The way in which this information is displayed can also vary. Generally they are displayed in some sort of graphical format. These can be things such as bar charts, pie graphs or even a dial indicator. Having the ability to interact with this information by drilling down into certain segments and also filtering by a date range should be a standard ERP feature. Creating these dashboards can be tricky to someone with little software experience so ensure that your software provider offer this service at no extra cost.

The days of spending copious amounts of time searching through report after report in order to find a piece of information are no more. ERP is a concept that enables you to be proactive rather than reactive and should make your life quicker and easier. To put it short, the information relevant to you should be live and at your fingertips whenever you need it.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Efficient, Accurate and Informative - Estimating with MIETrak Pro

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 11/09/2019

Estimating is arguably one of, if not the, most important processes for manufacturers today. Ensuring that your products and services are sold at the right price can be imperative in ensuring a company is successful. There is a fine line between being both cost effective and profitable, so what can you do in order to find this balance and how can an ERP system help?

Ensure quotes are produced efficiently.

Speeding up your quoting process will benefit your company in many ways. First and foremost, your customers (or new prospects) are going to receive their quotes back quicker, which in turn suggests that customer service is high on your agenda. It will allow your estimators to use their time more productively, by following up on existing quotes or seeking new business. An easy to use and intuitive ERP can help by streamlining and reducing the number of hours consumed by this process. MIE Trak Pro has the ability to copy previous quotes and templates, along with the functionality to import data from spreadsheets, CAD files and even PDFs, meaning the days of having to manually enter every piece of information from scratch are long gone.

Accurate quotes across the company.

Producing quotes efficiently is great, but ensuring that the quotes being sent are accurate is no doubt even more important. A large part of being able to quote accurately comes down to experience. Someone who has been quoting for 20 years will have more experience, expertise and logic to work with compared to someone who has been doing it for 5 minutes. But what if that logic could be shared amongst everyone in the company, regardless of how long they have been quoting for? A completely customisable, questions based, quoting system can be implemented with ERP software. Rather than have the estimator guess how long a job would take at each manufacturing step (with different people potentially having a different answer based on their interpretation), a list of questions can be presented on the screen which require “black or white” answers, which in turn then uses the formula logic set up in the system to do the hard work and calculate the time for you.

Make informed decisions based on historical data.

Have you ever wondered if you are charging enough or even charging too much for your products and services? Feedback from customers can be a vital indication as to whether you are at one extreme or the other. Also, feedback from the shop floor as to how much it’s actually costing can help you identify the jobs that are profitable and those that are not. ERP with live KPI and reporting functionality gives you access to essential data that can help identify these trends and can be presented either graphically or in PDF report format. This data can then be assessed and scrutinised in order to plan business improvements moving forward.

For more Information and for a free no obligation demonstration, please call: 01527 576444 or email: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Common KPI’s

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 22/11/2016

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to be a term that was often only associated with large corporations that had entire teams of analysts whose sole purpose was to create and then analyse company data. This data would then be used to further improve the companys efficiency and enable them to set future goals.

Fast forward 10 years and this sort of data is now easily accessible to all at a reasonable price in the form of an MRP / ERP system. A lot of markets in recent years have become very price driven, partly due to the fact that medium to small sized business are now running their day to day operations more efficiently. The number of KPIs available are nearly infinite, different companies efficiencies come from different aspects of their operations, but there are a few sought after pieces of information that are common and relevant to the majority.

- Quotation capture rates. Have you ever wondered how many quotes you have won and lost for a particular customer? On top of that, have you ever looked into why you lost the job? The answer is quite possibly no. It is easy to assume that if a customer has said no to a quotation that you have sent them that there is nothing you can do about it and that its out of your hands. This is where KPIs can be of huge benefit. For example, you may find that you are constantly losing quotes that are sent to a particular customer based on the price you are able to offer. For one off jobs there may be nothing you can do about the price that would make any further discounts worth it, but by using KPIs you may realise that you have lost out on several quotes that when added together have a value of hundreds of thousands of pounds. Knowing that you may come to realise that dropping your price per unit further may actually be worth it in the long run.

- Sales Order book. A sales order book is, in theory, a very basic KPI, but one thats sometimes not used to its full potential. The sales generated by a company is what keeps it going, but it can also give you a lot of information back that can help you improve your business further. A common piece of information that is extracted from a sales order book is the actual spend of each individual customer. This in turn can be used for things such as capacity planning. You may have a customer that makes up for a large part of your turnover and so they are the last person you would want to upset. Making their orders a priority when scheduling jobs on the shop floor may be of paramount importance. The sales order book can also be used to identify customer spend within certain geographical areas. You may come to realise that you arent dealing with many companies within close proximity. If profit margins are tight, dealing with companies close by may be worth looking at as non-manufacturing related costs such as deliveries are naturally going to be much lower. Also, with this information, you may identify that you deal with very few customers in a particular area that has a large industrial estate. Based on that, it might be worth sending a sales rep there in order to try and expand your customer base.

- Purchasing order book and receivers. In the same way that a sales order book gives you information on turnover, a purchase order book will give you information on expenditure. Other than giving you the basic expenditure with each supplier, the purchase order book can also be very useful for other pieces of information that can help determine how and where you purchase from in the future. You may find that you are purchasing the same materials from different suppliers and are therefore quite possibly paying more than you would if you were to buy it all from one supplier. The receivings data can also be very useful and help you determine where future purchases are made. With comparing basic information such as the expected delivery date against the actual delivery date, youll easily be able to paint a picture of which suppliers are more efficient than others in getting their products to your doorstep on time. Drilling down even further, you may find that certain suppliers are slower in getting certain products to you than others. This may be due to that fact that only a small proportion of their transport fleet is capable of carrying larger items meaning you are having to wait for their trucks to become available.

As mentioned before, the possibilities with KPIs are nearly infinite and Id never finish writing this blog if I were to try and describe even half of them. The main thing to remember is that they arent just pretty graphs that snapshot whether you are successful or not at that moment in time, they are pieces of information that can be taken to any degree of complexity and should be considered when making decisions on how you wish to move your company forward.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Why choose industry specific ERP?

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 29/09/2016

When it comes to selecting an ERP system, at a glance, you are spoilt for choice. There are ERP systems that are designed for companies of all sizes and industries, so how are you to narrow your search down in order to find the one thats right for your company? Today we are going to look at three main benefits of going down the route of industry specific ERP. There is no doubt that many systems could potentially be customised to suit your needs, but what are the plus points of going with a specific, out the box package?

 Fewer workarounds. As mentioned in the point above, many non-industry specific systems could be adapted to suit your needs, but only to a degree. The fact that the software was not originally designed with the intention of dealing with processes relevant to your industry means that there is a high possibility that workarounds will be required. By this I mean things such as the need to continue to use other systems to manage certain aspects, such as spreadsheets.

 Only pay for what you need. This one is a big point that often gets forgotten about. So you go and buy a system that has plenty of bells and whistles, but how many of them are you actually going to use and how many are relevant to what you need. Industry specific software is more likely to be tailored and have the exact modules you need to run your business. Another thing to consider is that you, as a user, are going to be paying towards the future development of the software in the form of an annual support contract. Industry specific packages are more likely to add features that are relevant to you, whereas more general ERP types are going to add features that cater for all of the markets they operate in.

 Ease of implementation. This was something that I talked about in another blog and is again quite often overlooked. The implementation to start with either makes the entire project a success or failure. Dealing with industry specific providers means you are dealing with people who have implemented the system in companies very similar to yourselves. They are more likely to have a better understanding of how your company operates and can decide on a plan of action based on relevant experience.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Cloud Hosted ERP Or On Premise?

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 26/02/2024

Are you thinking about implementing an ERP system and hosting on premise or do you already have one in place but are considering migrating to the cloud? In this article, we aim to explain the benefits and drawbacks of each solution. In the past year, the demand for cloud services has sky rocketed and so has the price we now pay for servers and licensing, we were recently approached by a customer who purchased a new server and other hardware for an eye-watering amount and it got us thinking, is this still the best way of hosting an ERP system?

Firstly what's the difference? Well on premise hosted ERP refers to installing and operating the ERP software from the company's physical infrastructure, whilst cloud hosting refers to hosting the ERP software on a third-party server accessible via the Internet. Ultimately which option is right for you will depend on several factors, including the organization's size, budget, industry, and specific requirements.

On Premise Hosted ERP Benefits:

- Once you own a server there are no recurring costs, in the case of MIETrak Pro you then own the software and the infrastructure it's installed to.

- You have complete control over your data and ERP environment.

- You can regulate your own security measures and configure backups.

On Premise Hosted Disadvantages:

- Initial setup and maintenance costs can be significant, especially for a small business.

- Choosing the right server can take some time, it's important when making such an investment that it not only meets your current needs but is capable of accommodating your business growth too.

- You will likely need to employ an IT company or specialist to facilitate server maintenance and security.

Cloud Hosted ERP Benefits:

- Facilitates remote working and business continuity

- No large upfront expenditure is involved at MIE we offer our cloud services at an affordable price, billed quarterly.

- Cloud providers also own the burden of any maintenance and upgrades

- Allows for effortless scalability

- Faster to implement

- As cloud providers usually specialize in securing & protecting Data they often offer better built-in security measures. The high level of security needed to ensure your data is encrypted and backed up as well as cyber security infrastructure can be hard for a small or medium-sized business to achieve.

Cloud Hosted ERP Disadvantages:

- Reliance on Internet Connection. In the case of connectivity issues or outages, the organization's operations may be affected.

- Recurring subscription fees, particularly when considering long-term investments.

In summary the choice will depend on your business and future business plans for example, if you have a desire to become paperless then the cloud is a good fit, giving you full business transparency wherever you are. If on the other hand, you are running a smaller operation and intend to keep it that way, investing in an on-premise solution would soon recuperate what it originally cost.

Here at MIE Solutions, we provide our ERP software either on-premise or cloud-hosted, and are more than happy to discuss on an individual basis the best option for your organization. We pride ourselves on our honest and open approach as ultimately our customer's success is paramount. To discuss your ERP requirements either: Call us on- 01527576444 or Email- sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Why Kiosk Shop Floor Data Capture (SFDC)?

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 17/03/2016

K eep up to date.

I ntegrated data.

O pen to communication.

S treamline shop floor operations.

K ey information.

Keep up to date.

Employees on the shop floor are just as reliant on the latest news within the company as anyone else. Bar-coding on its own does not enable employees on the shop floor to keep up to date on whats happening within the company. Things like company messages and changes in production schedules can be rolled out onto the shop floor, but only when paper copies or verbal messages are given. If the original message or schedule is then changed, the process above must be repeated. This is where Kiosk comes into its own. With Kiosk, as soon as something is changed within the main ERP system, it is reflected on the Kiosk screen.

Integrated data.

The main reason for shop floor data capture in general is to track where jobs are up to on the shop floor. By combining this feature with an ERP system, employees in the office are immediately able to see exactly where things are up to, meaning that they no longer have to physically walk onto the shop floor. This integrated data also enables users to see how the job is being reflected from a financial point of view. It might be that a certain process has taken longer than anticipated, meaning that the job could potentially be losing money or even running late.

Open to communication.

Bar-coding is effective, but at the same time limited, in what it can do. With its functionality being totally dependent on scanning predefined barcodes, it lacks the ability of two way communication. It still retrieves data on how long things have taken just like Kiosk, but is unable to log information that may be unique to a particular job. For example, an employee may complete a job that was allocated 30 minutes but took 40. At this stage, they may want to make a note against that job for future reference and to be able to inform the office. It may be that the job was more difficult than first thought, or that a different process was required in order to complete the job. Bar-coding would mean that the employee would have to either walk up to the office or make a note of the comment on a piece of paper which exposes the information to potentially being lost or misinterpreted. Kiosk on the other hand allows users to type the information in there and then, which in turn will also keep the traceability of that note against that job. In the same manner, Kiosk enables users to make purchase order and engineering change requests.

Streamline shop floor operations.

One of the main advantages of Kiosk over bar-coding is the hardware costs involved. In todays market, the purchase of a low end PC is considerably cheaper than the costs involved in buying new bar-coding equipment. This in itself enables companies to distribute more Kiosk stations throughout the shop floor, meaning that employees do not have to walk as far in order to access a station. Added functionality such as the ability to print move tickets from the shop floor helps speed up the overall process.

Key information.

With Kiosk being a software driven package, it is a lot more visual than its bar-coding counterpart. This alone gives shop floor workers easy access to a lot more information. If documents like drawings have been attached to the job, they can be viewed through the Kiosk itself. It also enables users to filter their results on the screen, making for easier reading. The system allows you to easily see what jobs you are currently clocked into, along with the locations of raw materials.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Estimating Basics & Quoting Jobs In Custom Metal Fabrication

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 02/10/2023

In an era of rising costs from labor shortages and supply chain challenges, timely access to data is essential. Static spreadsheets used for estimating and tracking costs need to be replaced by dynamic data management, such as MIETrak Pro enterprise resource planning system that incorporate historical, tribal knowledge with the collection and analysis of current data. The goal is to generate consistent estimates and provide profitable, competitive pricing.

Estimating fundamentals matters, especially now. Numerous factors influence the cost to produce parts, and understanding the basics of shop rates and sell rates is critical to determining a selling price that is both competitive and profitable.

How To Calculate The Shop Rate
Shop rates are the costs incurred for the production of parts on an hourly basis. To determine shop rates, first identify your direct hourly labor rates, your fixed overhead costs, and your variable overhead costs.

Direct hourly labor rates are the easiest to establish. They’re simply based on the actual hourly wage paid to employees. To determine the direct hourly labor rate for each production department, add the hourly wage rate for each department employee and then divide that by the total number of employees. This gives you the average hourly rate.

Most companies will then round that up. If your average rate were £12.35 per hour, you might round that to £12.50 or £13.00. Be sure to calculate the direct hourly labor rate for each production department, each of which has varying degrees of expertise among trained employees.

You also might consider identifying a rate for setup. Some machines may require more experienced employees for setup, but once they produce the first article, a less experienced employee can run the parts.

You could even establish direct hourly labor rates based on job types, such as prototype versus production or standard run versus expedited. Typically, a more experienced employee will produce prototypes, and a shop will charge higher rates for expedited production.

Overhead rates are more difficult to establish. Some just establish a single overhead rate for the facility, while others develop rates for each production department. After all, the costs behind every process—cutting, bending, deburring, machining, welding, or other anything else—can vary. Some machines may be fully depreciated while other machines are brand new and are just starting to be depreciated or have a lease payment each month. Power consumption can vary as well, and some equipment may require more maintenance.

Developing overhead rates for each production department lets you see the true cost of running the operation and allows you to be more competitive in your pricing. To develop overhead rates by production department, you need to look at both fixed and variable overhead expenses.

Fixed overhead costs are incurred whether the facility is up and running or shut down. Examples would be rent, equipment leases, utilities, and depreciation. Calculating these for the entire facility is straightforward; determining fixed overhead costs for each production department is a little more complex.

Using the most recent 12 months of data, you may allocate costs to each production department based on square footage (rent, utilities) or equipment costs (equipment leases and/or depreciation). Once you have the total costs allocated to each production department, determine the hourly cost by dividing the total by the estimated productive hours for the next 12 months. This will give you the fixed overhead costs by hour for each production department.

Variable overhead costs are directly related to the production of revenue-generating parts. Examples would be consumables such as welding gases, welding wire or rod, safety equipment, and indirect labor. These expenses vary with increases or decreases in production.

Again, using data from the past 12 months, you can allocate costs to the corresponding production department. Because we’re in an inflationary period, you’ll want to increase these total costs based on expected increases over the next 12 months. You then divide a department’s total costs by the estimated productive hours for the next 12 months, giving you the variable overhead costs by hour for each production department.

Estimated productive hours is the time equipment is expected to produce revenue-generating parts. A one-shift operation, eight hours per day, five days per week, has 2,080 hours worked in a year. Of course, employees don’t work for 2,080 hours. They take breaks, as required by law, they go on vacation and sick leave, and they have company holidays. And sometimes an employee is out, leaving no one available to operate a machine. Additionally, some departments may not be fully utilized over the course of 12 months.

Once you determine the percentage of time a department will be productive, multiply that percentage by the 2,080 hours (or more, if you’re running multiple shifts) to determine the estimated productive hours for that department. So, a department that works 80% of the time would have 1,664 estimated productive hours a year (2,080 × 0.80).

For production departments with multiple machines, estimated productive hours would incorporate the sum of all of them. Say you have three lasers in your cutting department, and the estimated productive hours for each is 1,664. So, the total productive hours per year for the department would be 1,664 × 3, or 4,992 hours.

Now that you have determined your direct hourly labor rate, fixed overhead hourly costs, and variable overhead hourly costs, you can add those together to calculate your hourly shop rate for each production department.

Sell Rate and Sell Price

The sell rate for each production department helps determine the price for the production time of parts. In reality, the sell rate is a function of what the market will bear. Based on the market sell rate for each production department, you can determine the profit using the shop rates that you calculated previously.

For each production area, the estimated profit would be the market sell rate less the shop rate. The selling price is the price at which the company is willing to produce and deliver parts. It includes the sell rate plus the cost of materials and outside processing (see Figure 1).

Some operations want all costs to be fully absorbed for estimating purposes. In these cases, they give estimates that incorporate operational overhead costs. These non-inventoriable costs include non-revenue-generating expenses like sales, marketing, administration, and accounting.

To determine the hourly operational overhead cost, you again would utilize the most recent 12 months of cost data for these areas and divide the total by the total estimated productive hours for all production departments. Add the hourly operational overhead cost to the sell price and you get the fully burdened sell price.

Developing Estimated Times

Identifying and calculating the sell rate for a production department is just one component of providing an estimate. A more critical piece is the estimated time it will take to actually produce the part. Variables include the type of material, material thickness, part size, internal geometry, hardware, number and type of bends, part finish, and any other processing variable that affects the time needed to complete a job. Just as you developed hourly rates for each production department, you can also develop standard formulas that incorporate these variables to estimate the time required. Using standard formulas in conjunction with your sell rate will produce consistent estimates regardless of the estimator. For example, a bending formula might incorporate not only the number of bends of a particular part, but also the number of part flips, factoring in part size and the need for helpers.

When using a standard formula for a laser, an estimator would only be required to enter material thickness, type of material, total inches of cut, and number of pieces. The formula will then provide the estimated run time.

Exact formulas can vary depending on the operation, and they can evolve over time. For instance, a formula for laser cutting might start with (Linear inches of cut/speed of cut in IPM) + (Number of pierces × Pierce time/60). Estimators would then multiply the result with the department’s hourly shop rates for direct labor and overhead. As quoting evolves, other variables might be added to the formula, such as part removal time, and whether the operation is automated or involves a helper hammering a thick part out of a skeleton. A cut sheet on an offload table might not tie up machine resources, but there are still labor costs associated with removing and organizing those parts, and, depending on the operation, an estimator might want to account for them.

Setup times typically are standardized by production department, and most rely on default times unless there is an overly complex or simple part. Estimators usually divide setup time by quantity and multiply that by the department’s hourly rate (though the direct labor shop rate might be higher, depending on the setup personnel involved). The shorter the setup, the more competitive a shop can be on low-quantity runs.

The idea is to get the estimated time as close to the actual time as you possibly can—a feat that (as we’ll discuss soon) makes an entire operation more flexible and competitive (see Figure 2). And when you use an ERP system, instead of traditional spreadsheets, you can maintain all of the labor and overhead rates as well as the standard formulas in one place, facilitating easy updates and access by all estimators.

Actual Versus Estimated

Being able to compare the actual time and costs during production to the original estimate allows you to evaluate employee performance, the validity of standard formulas, material utilization, and overhead absorption. When you see a variance, you can adjust pricing as needed for future orders.

By tracking and comparing the actual versus estimated direct labor time for each operation, you evaluate estimating accuracy and employee efficiency. Longer-than-estimated labor time could indicate a problem, such as excessive scrap parts and rework. Work instructions might be vague, employees might need more training, or the estimate (including the standard formula it relies on) might simply be inaccurate. If employees performed efficiently and the operation went smoothly, you might need to reevaluate the standard formula and adjust it as needed.

Next comes material utilization. Was the actual yield greater or less than estimated? Evaluate the variance, determine the cause, and adjust as necessary for future quotes.

Actual versus estimated comparisons also affect overhead absorption. If a job takes less time than estimated, it absorbs less overhead and realizes greater profit. Conversely, if it takes more time than expected, it absorbs more overhead and puts profit at risk.

Evaluate overhead rates quarterly, and make sure they incorporate changes in equipment utilization, actual hours utilized, and actual expenses incurred. By continually monitoring and adjusting overhead rates, you help make sure you don’t under or over-absorb these costs.

The actual-versus-estimated comparison allows you to continuously refine the rates, times, and formulas estimators use. Put simply, accurate quoting helps you maintain consistent profits.

In highly competitive environments or during times of economic downturn, knowing precise costs allows you to understand how far you can reduce pricing to keep the lights on without losing money. This can mean the difference between keeping trained employees or being faced with difficult workforce reductions.

Say your company has reached its productive capacity. If you know the precise costs and the profits produced by a job, you can reevaluate pricing on lower-margin items and increase sell prices accordingly.

The ability to estimate the cost of production accurately may make the difference between success and failure in today’s competitive manufacturing landscape. Estimating the cost of a job or service requires a firm understanding of the part, its production history, the time required to produce it, and the associated costs of labor and materials.

Accurately identifying the associated costs ensures that each production order adheres to the company’s business model and desired margin. For decades, manufacturing has survived using tribal knowledge, pen and paper, spreadsheets, and printed documents to quote businesses. These slow, archaic methods may have worked in the past, but they won’t in the future. Here, modern software platforms are playing an increasingly critical role, helping shops streamline the calculation of job costing and estimating. This helps keep profits consistent and, ultimately, makes a fabricator more competitive as it navigates the ever-changing economic landscape.

Don Clutter

CFO MIE Solutions

We are offering discounts that are exclusively for Made in the Midlands members !

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 20/01/2016

MIE Solutions are offering discounts on its Production Control/MRP software - MIETrak Pro. These discounts are exclusively for Made in the Midlands members and are available for a limited time only. Get in touch to find out more on what we have to offer.

Call us: 01527 576 444

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

YOU SHOULD NEVER COMPROMISE ON PRODUCT, QUALITY, OR SERVICE.

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 27/08/2019

MIE Solutions UK Ltd’s mission is to see that you don’t!

Welcome to MIE Solutions UK Ltd here we can offer you MIETrak Pro - an Industry specific and Complete Software Solution

With over 23 years experience in the Sheet Metal, Engineering and Fabrication industry and with a large worldwide presence. We understand our existing and potential new clients needs within this industry. We can develop and implement our system accordingly.

MIE Trak Pro can offer you:

RFQ / Quotation / Estimating
Sales Order Processing
Works Order / Router Design
Purchasing
Scheduling
Shop Floor Data Capture
Stock Control
Time Clock / HR
Costing / Reporting
Shipping / Invoicing / Accounts Integration
Quality Control
Preventative Maintenance

Interested?

Please contact us to arrange a NO OBLIGATION demonstration or to have an informal chat. We look forward to your call: 01527 576 444

www.mie-solutions.co.uk

QTS Call MIETrak Pro Transformative

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 08/01/2024

Supplying wire mesh products since 2003, Qube Total Solutions has been on a journey of exceptional growth whilst positioning itself as the leading wire mesh manufacturer in the warehousing sector. Operating from their impressive manufacturing facility in Nottingham, the company combines innovative design with high-grade materials to create a quality product for their customers, including mesh partitions, wire caging, and even bespoke solutions.

As an organisation with ingrained values of continual improvement, QTS identified the need for a central database after years of running two separate systems for their sales and operational teams. In 2021 MIE Trak Pro was selected as the ideal ERP software to connect all areas of the business and enhance departmental communications, significantly elevating data automation and providing their customers with an ever-improving experience.

Since installation, QTS have been formidable in their dedication to implementing MIE Trak Pro into daily operations and as a result, they are now reaping the benefits of easily accessible data and streamlined procedures. One example of this is the ability to analyse work orders to establish ‘real-time costs’ based upon labour collections and material consumption. This has proven to be a game changer when compared to their previous processes of manually collating this data which was not only time-consuming but susceptible to human error. Another key feature for the QTS team is the ability to manipulate large volumes of sales data in different formats and filter based on specific requirements, creating ‘real-time’ data sets which has helped all levels of the business in their planning and strategic decision making.

MIE Trak Pro now provides QTS with full visibility throughout the business in one system from RFQ to dispatch, thus enabling them to answer customer queries factually and efficiently, which in turn enables the business to maintain the world-class customer service they are renowned for. As a company that also prides itself on not only the quality of their products but also their commitment to customer satisfaction, it is with great pleasure that we work with progressive manufacturers such as Qube Total Solutions.

“As a company deeply committed to continuous improvement and exceptional customer service, QTS's decision to implement MIETrak Pro has been transformative. Since its integration in December 2022, we've experienced a remarkable shift in operational efficiency and data accuracy across departments. MIETrak Pro's centralised system has not only streamlined our workflows from sales to dispatch but has also significantly boosted our data automation capabilities. With real-time data access and improved planning tools, we're now able to make more informed, strategic decisions faster than ever. MIETrak Pro is more than just an ERP solution; it's been a catalyst for elevating our customer experience and driving our business forward."

Craig De-Lara-Managing Director QTS / www.qts-ltd.co.uk

New Case Study: Central Profiles

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 13/09/2023

Central Profiles was founded in 1999 and since then have been on a journey of continual growth to become one of the leading subcontract laser-cutting companies in the region. Operating out of a state-of-the-art 40,000 sqft facility in the Midlands, using the latest technology in high-capacity equipment, their expertise in sheet metal laser cutting extends across an array of sectors including, automotive, aerospace, electronics, and architecture.

As well as being an excellent fabrication company, Central Profiles prides itself on being a people business. It's the expertise of their staff that delivers unrivaled results in everything from design and development to fabrication and finishing. This combination of highly skilled employees and their investment in the best technology such as robotic welding, Amada press brakes, and the Amada Ensis 3015 with the ASF automatic storage tower, enable Central Profiles to deliver complex projects completely in house.

With continued growth Central Profiles sought a comprehensive ERP solution that could integrate all their departments seamlessly all the way from creating quotes to managing production and creating invoices. MIETrak Pro was selected because as well as offering an all-encompassing platform that could efficiently manage their entire operations, Central Profiles also felt the MIE team where the right fit to support them in their implementation journey. Now utilizing MIETrak in all departments of the business the biggest improvements have come from the software's advanced planning tools allowing them to optimise their production capabilities, with the benefit of being able to track parts as they progress through the factory and create production schedules to help plan machine workloads.

We are immensely proud at MIE Solutions to be providing the ERP software that has aided Central Profiles to position itself as a true leader in the industry.

“Following on from the MIETrak Pro demonstration, we felt it was the missing piece to support & integrate all aspects of our business and streamline the way we worked. The software had all the modules we needed to bring operations into the 21st century and we felt confident and assured that the MIE team would be there to help us through the initial change and continued growth. Since going live with the software we have made various requests to modify elements in order to suit our individual needs, This has always been dealt with effectively & efficiently by the MIE support team. With MIETrak Pro we now benefit from having all of our information in one place, With the extensive analytics the software provides we have been able to make various improvements to the way we work ensuring our customer always receives the best service and product.”

Adam Caldwell- Project Engineer

Increasing Productivity With MIETrak Pro

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 24/07/2023

From its origins in 1960, Saint Anns Sheet Metal Company, based in Nottingham, has built up a reputation as a quality-orientated company in materials, workmanship, and customer support recognised by ISO 9001:2015 accreditation. As a specialist CNC machinist of sheet metal, the company has continually evolved to offer many services from laser profiling, welding, powder coating, and metal forming to name a few. Operating from state-of-the-art facilities and using the latest laser cutting equipment they have grown to become one of the Midland's leading sheet metal companies.

SASM has been dedicated to implementing an ERP system since the installation of MIETrak Pro back in 2019. Previously using different systems to manage and monitor their workflow, they found this was very time-consuming and disjointed and began a search for an ERP system that would bring this all together in one place. MIETrak Pro was soon identified as being the system to allow easier traceability of sales orders, work orders, POs, invoices, and other such documentation.

SASM have also invested in MIE Kiosk for their shopfloor to give them ‘real time’ visibility into their operations, significantly improving their ability to reduce lead times and ensure on time delivery of projects. Their dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction sets a benchmark for the industry and MIE Solutions are proud to be providing them with the cutting edge ERP solution helping them achieve this.

‘As a company that prides itself on our quality and reliability, it was important for Saint Anns Sheet Metal Company Limited to select an ERP system that was robust enough to keep up with the company’s ambitious growth targets. This made MIE Solutions ERP system, MIETrak Pro, the natural choice due to the quality and depth of features available. As the ERP system is a new tool for the business it came with a learning curve, but the training and support from MIE Solutions has been absolutely fantastic. The support team at MIE Solutions is great at listening to the issues we are having and working with us to develop the solution in an easy to understand and straightforward manner. We’ve been blown away with the scope of features available and the increases in productivity these features enable. We’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s available and are looking forward to see what we can achieve next!’

Simon Blood- Internal Sales/Office Coordinator

MIE Apprenticeships

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 12/09/2016

Here at MIE we are strong believers in investing in the future and playing a part in creating the workforce of tomorrow. Apprenticeships have a large part to play in MIEs success as the company has benefitted as well as the employees themselves.

Why do MIE invest so heavily in apprentices? Apprentices are the future of our world and therefore potentially the future of MIE. In todays media, a lot of emphasis is put on the unemployment rate and lack of opportunities for youngsters. As a successful company, we feel we are in a position and therefore have a moral obligation to give them a chance. We were all once in their shoes and would probably not be in the positions we are if we were not once given a chance. The other thing to remember is that you are dealing with people who are at the beginning of their working life and are ready to learn. This enables you, as a company, to mould them and teach them the way you wish for them to work and the morals you abide by. At this early stage, they have not been susceptible to years of exposure of different ways (and potentially wrong ways) of doing things.

Where do we see our apprentices further down the line? It is hard to say for sure but we definitely do not see ourselves as an apprentice farm that is designed to initially mould youngsters and then pass them on. Since the start of our apprenticeship scheme in July 2013, we have had two of our apprenticeships come on board under full employment, and currently have two more still contracted under the apprenticeship scheme. Our apprenticeship to full time employment rate stands at 100% meaning that from a business point alone, the time and effort put into the next generation has not been wasted. Business a side, our Directors, Sam and Chris, feel a sense of pride when they see a young and inexperienced apprentice blossom into a fully independent and responsible adult.

Who do MIE deal with when it comes to apprenticeships? MIE deal with a company called LMPQ. They have offices based in Birmingham and Worcester and cover the surrounding area. If you would like to find out more about LMPQ and how they can help your company with apprenticeships then you can go to their website www.lmpq.co.uk.

If you would like any more information on our apprenticeship scheme then you can;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Lot, Batch & Serial Number Traceability

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 16/08/2016

In the age we live in, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of physics with the

technologies and inventions we create. Events such as the deepest submarine dive, that

reached an astonishing 10,991 metres, have lead to the need for highly certified materials to

be used on certain projects. With regards to a submarine, only the highest grades of

material can be used in order to maintain the safety of all crew aboard. This type of

requirement is what lead to the birth of Lot, Batch and Serial number traceability.

What are the differences between a Lot, Batch & Serial number you ask? To put it simply,

Lot and Batch numbers refer to raw materials, whereas serial numbers refer to a unique

identification number that is assigned to each individual item. When referring to materials

from a Lot or a Batch, we are referring to the fact that they have been made from the same

raw resource or on the same production run. The reason for having the ability to associate

both a Lot & Batch number to a raw material is that you may have an internal reference and

external reference for the same item. Your supplier may declare that it is from Batch 123

but internally you may refer to it as Lot 456. When you order the same materials from

various different suppliers, this can become very important.

The reason for having such traceability is to ensure they are of the same quality. For

example, this can be essential when referring to items of colour like paint. You may have a

blue that was produced in two separate batches. In theory they should be the same blue,

but that is then assuming that the mix and all of the products and processes it consists of

are 100% accurate on every production run, and the chances of it being a perfect match are

pretty low. In turn, finished items that are going to be situated within close proximity when

complete are often required to have been produced using the same colour batch so there is

no noticeable discrepancy.

Once an item has been complete it can be associated with a serial number. Serial numbers

are often completely unique and offer the traceability to be able to see what was exactly

used to produce that item. For example, cars often have a type of serial number in the form

of a VIN number. These are completely unique so no two cars will have the same reference.

With this detail you can find out exactly which components, along with their original

sources, were used to manufacture that specific car. If components are then in need of

replacing, it is easy to see which specification is required.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further

detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

ERP Meets CAD/CAM at MACH 2016

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 07/04/2016

MIE Solutions MRP and Metamation will be on Stand 4673 - Hall 4

Please register at www.machexhibition.com Visitor Registration. We look forward to seeing you there.

This is where MIE Solutions UK partnership with Metamation comes into its own. With our partnership, you get two individual companies who are experts in their fields, which combine their market leading solutions to muster a complete manufacturing package.

So we have two market leaders in their respective fields, now how do they actually integrate and what are the benefits?

From the outset, the two systems combine at the quoting stage. Metamations Enterprise engine tools the parts automatically to work out information such as machine cycle times. This information is then transferred over to MIETraks quoting module QuoteIT Pro, which uses the information to work out costings for quoting purposes using machine CAM information, using this method means your costings and predicted schedule times are more precise as more machine factors are taken into account.

Job cards that are then produced from within the MIETrak Pro system are passed back over to Enterprise that then enables the dynamic nesting of jobs.

Dynamic nesting enables users to go to the nth degree when deciding on the complexity of the nests they wish to create. The two systems combined offer the ultimate solution from the very design of products through to the shipping and invoicing.

Interested?

We are exhibiting at MACH 2016 at the NEC on Stand 4673 Hall 4, so if you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please visit us at the show we will be showcasing our software and demonstrations are available all day every day!

Can't wait?

REQUEST DEMO today!

MIE Solutions

www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Metamation

www.metamation.com

The power of MRP

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 22/01/2016

MRP is at the forefront of many manufacturers operations and processes, but what does it actually mean and what are the benefits of using it? Firstly, there are in fact two different types of MRP, MRP 1 and MRP 2. MRP 1 stands for Material Resource Planning and MRP 2 stands for Manufacturing Resource Planning. The terms sound very similar but they do in fact relate to two different aspects all together.

 Material Resource Planning and its benefits. In essence, Material Resource Planning does precisely what it says on the tin. The logic behind the concept is to plan your material requirements based on a range of parameters and your demand. A common parameter that people use for stock items are reorder points. Using a reorder point means that if your stock levels fall below the amount stated, the MRP 1 will prompt you to raise a purchase order to replenish that item. The MRP 1 will also take into account work order and forecast requirements. This can be very useful if your forecast suggests you have a busy month ahead, as it will prompt you to purchase enough material to deal with the potential influx of orders. It is quite common that with lengths of extrusion and boxes of hardware, that you will have to purchase them in boxes or packs of a certain amount. So for example, your MRP 1 has to calculate that you require 80 washers to complete the jobs you have coming this month, but you are only able to purchase them in boxes of 100. The MRP 1 will take the minimum amount you can order and prompt you to purchase the quantity of 100. With it taking all that into consideration, what are the benefits of using it? First off, it gives you bargaining power with your suppliers. The fact that you are able to group materials and plan further ahead means that you can purchase in larger, but more precise quantities. This in itself will give you the power to demand improved item discounts and also save on delivery charges and admin time. With you being able to consider forecasts when you run your MRP 1, you are less likely to run out of stock items and therefore continue to meet your demand and get jobs out the door on time.

 Manufacturing Resource Planning and its benefits. Manufacturing Resource Planning, like its counterpart, is the concept of planning your manufacturing requirements based on a range of parameters and your demand. For items that are manufactured for stock, either because they are a commonly sold item or because they are a commonly used sub component, using a reorder point when running the MRP 2 will prompt you to raise a work order to manufacture some replenishment. The MRP 2 will also take into account your work order and forecast requirements. This side of the MRP 2 is commonly used if you are expecting an influx of orders. It may be that you have a item thats demand is determined by the season, and so having enough of them sat on the shelf, waiting to be purchased is essential. As well as setting minimum reorder points, you can set limits to the maximum quantity you want sat on the shelves. For companies who are limited in terms of storage space, maintaining a restricted quantity of manufactured items is a must. The advantages and benefits to using MRP 2 are in theory, very similar to that of MRP 1. It gives you improves your chances of dealing with a predicted influx of purchases, and also enables you to save money by being able to nest jobs together in order to save time and improve material utilisation.

When searching for an MRP system, ensure you do look into its capabilities. You should expect such a system to accommodate both MRP 1 and MRP 2. Due to the points mentioned above, the ROI on an ERP system can largely be down to the use and effectiveness of the MRP capabilities within it.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Be proactive rather than reactive

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 26/10/2015

The theory of being proactive rather than reactive is very appealing to manufacturers for many reasons. One reason would be that, in theory, a proactive approach that was carried out to perfection would lead to very few unexpected surprises. The definition of proactive is to create or control a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has already happened. In the language of manufacturing, an example of this would be having the ability to tell if a job is going to be late way before the job is due to be delivered. As a result, this would then give you the time to act accordingly, whether it be to prioritise and push the job through production, or to give the customer plenty of notice that their job will not be arriving on time. A reactive approach to this very situation could have a detrimental effect on the business and its reputation.

That all sounds so great, so how do we go about implementing such an approach? Keeping tabs on all of this information manually would be practically impossible. There are always going to be cases where the suppliers van broke down, meaning that you have no materials, or where drawings have to be put on hold as a result of changes being made to them. Things like these can never be helped, and so having measures in place to either still make sure that the job gets out the door on time or to give the customer enough notice to change their plans is a must. MIETrak Pro has systems in place that will notify you the second a job is expected to be late. We also have full inventory location control that will notify you the second your stock levels fall below your minimum reorder points.

Another strategy geared towards being proactive is having a quality control system in place. In todays industry some companies are required to abide by certain inspection criteria due to the markets they trade in and the accreditation they have gained. Again, that process of trying to find an issue before it is found by the customer is only going to have a positive effect in the long run. The quality control module within MIETrak allows you to associate specific inspections to a periodic quantity count of manufactured items, as well as having to inspect items that are purchased before they reach the stock shelves.

Im sure after reading this you are going to try and impregnate a 24/7 proactive approach into every employee within the organisation, but the truth is no company will ever be able to apply a proactive approach to every situation. There are always going to be situations well out of your control, like your delivery truck breaking down on the M25. The idea of MIETrak is to try and keep you having to use the reactive approach to a minimal.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

The Real Importance of Real Time Tracking

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 21/10/2015

Manufacturing in todays world is extremely fast paced and relentless. Turnaround times are forever being scrutinised as new methods of production and state of the art pieces of machinery are constantly being introduced into the market. Along with cost, the ability to track manufacturing processes in real time is at the forefront of priorities for successful manufacturers.

Real time tracking has an array of uses and is imperative to the running of an efficient business. Spotting problems early on the shop floor can be the difference between keeping a customer happy and losing them to a competitor. When it comes to tracking jobs on the shop floor, MIE Solutions offer two different types of Shop Floor Data Capture (SFDC). This information is fed back into the office and is live by the second, meaning that you can give the customer chasing their parts and exact answer to where they are up to.

The first option we offer is the bar-coding. Bar-coding consists of a keypad and gun set that is used to scan on and off jobs using a barcode. It also includes features such as moving stock between locations, clocking in and out for the day, and also issuing materials to jobs.

The second option we offer is our Kiosk option. Kiosk is PC, touch screen and tablet driven. It has all of the features included in bar-coding, plus a whole lot more! This option allows two way communication meaning that workers on the shop floor are able to relay information back to the office in the form of messages, engineering change requests and even purchase order requests. With Kiosk being completely software driven, it can also be used as a tracking system for jobs that are carried out on site. That, with the combination of being able to issue materials means that your serviceman can arrive at a job with a van full of materials and issue them there and then as they go. Kiosk is geared to function in a completely paperless environment. Whether any company will ever go completely paperless is a tough question, but by having the ability to view drawings and work to lists through the system, it is definitely no longer just a dream.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Why Paperless Shop Floor Data Capture (SFDC)?

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 19/11/2019

Our shop floor data capture, MIE KIOSK, can answer that:

Keep up to date.

Employees on the shop floor are just as reliant on the latest news within the company as anyone else. Bar-coding on its own does not enable employees on the shop floor to keep up to date on what’s happening within the company. Things like company messages and changes in production schedules can be rolled out onto the shop floor, but only when paper copies or verbal messages are given. If the original message or schedule is then changed, the process above must be repeated. This is where Kiosk comes into its own. With Kiosk, as soon as something is changed within the main ERP system, it is reflected on the Kiosk screen.

Integrated data.

Open to communication.

Bar-coding is effective, but at the same time limited, in what it can do. With its functionality being totally dependent on scanning predefined barcodes, it lacks the ability of two way communication. It still retrieves data on how long things have taken just like Kiosk, but is unable to log information that may be unique to a particular job. For example, an employee may complete a job that was allocated 30 minutes but took 40. At this stage, they may want to make a note against that job for future reference and for the information of the office. It may be that the job was more difficult than first thought, or that a different process was required in order to complete the job. Bar-coding would mean that the employee would have to either walk up to the office or make a note of the comment on a piece of paper which exposes the information to potentially being lost or misinterpreted. Kiosk on the other hand allows users to type the information in there and then, which in turn will also keep the traceability of that note against that job. In the same manner, Kiosk enables users to make purchase order and engineering change requests.

Streamline shop floor operations.

One of the main advantages of Kiosk over bar-coding is the hardware costs involved. In today’s market, the purchase of a low end PC is considerably cheaper than the costs involved in buying new bar-coding equipment. This in itself enables companies to distribute more Kiosk stations throughout the shop floor, meaning that employees do not have to walk as far in order to access a station. Added functionality such as the ability to print move tickets from the shop floor helps speed up the overall process.

Key information.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

How ERP can help sell your business to potential customers

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 09/03/2016

ERP is generally viewed as an internal tool to help streamline your processes and keep all information under one roof. In todays markets, the margin between gaining and losing a customer can be minute. Contributing factors such as price, quality and lead time are often the criteria used by businesses that seek new suppliers. With competitively priced materials becoming more readily available, companies are having to find other ways of distinguishing themselves from competitors in the eyes of potential customers. This is where ERP can help.

As well as making life easier internally, an ERP system also provides an added incentive for potential customers to do business with you. It provides proof of an organised internal infrastructure and also suggests that you are a company that is forward thinking and continuously improving due to being at the forefront of modern technology. So what is it exactly that makes ERP so appealing? The best way to look at this is to see it from their point of view;

 Delivered goods as they should be. The solution that ERP offers to this problem is so simple yet so effective. Companies that use internal spreadsheets or a number of different systems are exposed to potential human error and can also lack traceability. ERP on the other hand eliminates the need for double entry and will automatically create a systematic paper trail. This in itself reduces the probability of a finished product being sent to your customer incorrect. Depending on the industry they work in, they may demand that certain materials with certain certification and quality standards are used. Spreadsheets or multiple internal systems may potentially lose track and not enforce this procedure. ERP on the other hand will ensure the traceability of materials, and also provide proof that quality standards were met. With the inclusion of things such as stop sequences and inspections, ERP goes a long way to reassuring customers that no compromise has been taken when manufacturing their item.

 Realistic delivery dates and improved on time deliveries. As Im sure you can appreciate, being able to forward plan and to also be confident in receiving goods on time will be high on the priority list of potential customers. If they are unable to do either of the above, it could potentially have a detrimental effect on both their financial position and also their reputation. Customers will often ask for an expected delivery date as soon as they place their order. This enables them to plan ahead and maintain their own efficiency. Suppliers that have no scheduling system in place or carry it out manually are less likely to be able to give an informed estimate. Companies that have an ERP and scheduling system in place will be able to give an immediate response that is accurately calculated based on the algorithms and parameters they have set in place. ERP combined with real time Shop Floor Data Capture (SFDC) will also dramatically improve on time deliveries. With the data being live, any problems during manufacture can be spotted early, meaning that you have more time to react to the problem and resolve it. This in itself reassures customers that you are capable of being proactive as possible. Research carried out by the Aberdeen Group suggests that on average companies that utilise ERP have complete and on time deliveries of 88%.

 The sale price is competitive. This one is often solely compared to the price of your competitors, which at face value, makes sense. It may be that a competitor of yours is able to offer a one off low price as they have some spare material, or they may be desperate for the work. So how can ERP support your case against this situation, you ask? ERP incorporates a number of features that can help reassure customers that they are getting the most for their money. Companies that purchase manually are limited with their data and therefore the bigger picture, whereas ERP combined with Material Resource Planning (MRP I) gives you complete visibility and bargaining power. It enables you to make accurate forecasts and also group purchases, meaning that you can improve material utilisation and purchase at better rates. A common saying is that you can pass on your saving to the customer, and its true. If you pay less then they pay less. Its as simple as that. Another concept of ERP is that anyone, whether you have 10 years experience or 10 weeks, can produce a quotation and come out with the same price. So from a customers perspective, whether they received a quote from Tom, Dick or Harry, they can be assured that it is accurately calculated by the system and therefore more likely to be competitive.

In a sense, an ERP system goes a long way to becoming an extra salesman, as well as being an internal management system. The Aberdeen Groups research on ERP concluded that 89% of customers reported better than average satisfaction when dealing with companies that have an ERP system. Remember, these people are potentially going to work with you on a daily basis, and so the efficiency and set-up of your internal operations are just as important to them as they are to you.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Things to consider with capacity planning and scheduling

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 04/11/2015

Quick lead time is one of the best unique selling points a manufacturing company can offer its customers. In the world we live in, projects and processes take days rather than weeks, and so the ability to forecast your manufacturing capacity has never been more important. Capacity planning and scheduling can be affected by so many factors, but the real question is, are these factors often taken into account? The terms capacity planning and scheduling are very closely linked and nearly always affect each other. Capacity planning refers to the workload you are able to process, whereas scheduling refers to the order jobs are processed in and therefore the speed in which they can be completed. A lot of software companies now sell their systems in modular format, so is this having a detrimental effect on their scheduling and capacity planning capabilities? Below is a list of key factors that should be considered when scheduling and planning your capacity.

- Labour hours vs. machine run time. This is a common one that is often misinterpreted. It is quite often assumed that if we have 38 hours worth of labour per employee a week, then we will have 38 hours worth of capacity with a machine. In some cases this would be true. An example would be a saw for instance as it would most likely be fully operational at the press of a button and would only require one operator. On the other hand, lets take a furnace for example; So we have our employee turn up on a Monday morning to turn the furnace on. The furnace now takes 1 hour to heat up before any jobs can be processed; We are now already 1 hour down on our machine capacity vs. labour hours meaning 1 hours less production will take place through the furnace. The ability to take this into account is key as that employee could be best used on a different machine whilst the furnace heats up.

- Machine servicing. The build standard of machines is constantly on the rise as technology continues to advanced and building methods continue to improve. Unfortunately, most machines still require servicing or calibration every so often. Down time on machines is always going to have an effect on turnaround as you will have lost those machines manufacturing capabilities for a certain amount of time. On the more technical machines, an external engineer is often required, meaning that your machines capacity is affected. On the other hand, there are cases whereby servicing can be carried out by someone internally. This then has an effect on both capacity and scheduling as you now also have an internal job to fit into your already busy working schedule.

- Material availability. This one for me is key and usually overlooked. I often hear of purchasing and scheduling modules being supplied independently, and always question why and how? Jobs can only start if the bill of materials are present, so how can a system with no purchasing and stock information function accurately? Unfortunately events happen such as having the wrong material sent, or a delivery not turning up on time. In either case, any jobs that require those materials will be affected and are most likely not going to be started on time. Your schedule should immediately reflect this in order to give you the ability to react to the problem.

- Employee availability and constraints. It would be a near perfect scenario if every member of your workforce could operate every machine on your shop floor. The reality is that this case is very rare. Certain machines may require specific training and if those specially trained people are unavailable, certain jobs are going to be delayed.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

ERP Meets CAD/CAM

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 05/02/2016

In todays world, having one system that manages everything is becoming more and more popular. There are companies that offer complete packages that include ERP and CAD/CAM software, but are they really sufficient to suit the ever demanding industry? This is where MIE Solutions partnership with Metamation comes into its own. With our partnership, you get two individual companies who are experts in their fields, which combine their market leading solutions to muster a complete manufacturing package.

 The ERP. MIE Solutions are the suppliers of their market leading ERP/MRP system, MIETrak Pro. MIETrak Pro is designed to manage the entire workflow process from the initial enquiry all the way through to shipping and invoicing. Having originally been developed in partnership with Amada America, the softwares core is manufacturing driven which sets itself apart with its attention to detail when quoting and manufacturing items from a sheet metal, engineering and fabrication sector.

The MIETrak Pro system is used on a global scale with over 1300 users in the UK, and over 10,000 worldwide. MIE have multiple offices in the USA, and are also situated in Mexico, UK, South Africa and New Zealand. The features that set MIE Solutions from their competitors are that it is an industry specific solution along with being a complete, non-modular, ERP solution. The system is designed to cater to company at both end of the spectrum, whether it be a single user system, or a multi-site or multi-national corporate organisation.

-The CAD/CAM. Metamation are market leaders with their innovative CAD/CAM software. They offer the complete Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture with configurable modules that offer both 2D and 3D design with import along with offline bending, punch programs, profile cutting and dynamic nesting for a wide range of machines and machine manufactures. Metamation have been making CAD CAM Software for 20 years and have multiple locations throughout the globe.

Metamation are easily distinguished from their competition as they are amongst a very small number of CAD/CAM suppliers who have developed and own all of their products. They deal directly with machine manufacturers in an OEM capacity along with their own direct customer portfolio, which means they already have links to 1000s of machine models.

 Where they meet. So we have two market leaders in their respective fields, now how do they actually integrate and what are the benefits? From the outset, the two systems combine at the quoting stage. Metamations Enterprise engine tools the parts automatically to work out information such as machine cycle times. This information is then transferred over to MIETraks quoting module which uses the information to work out costings for quoting purposes using machine CAM information, using this method means your costings and predicted schedule times are more precise as more machine factors are taken into account. Job cards that are then produced from within the MIETrak Pro system are passed back over to Enterprise that then enables the dynamic nesting of jobs. Dynamic nesting enables users to go to the nth degree when deciding on the complexity of the nests they wish to create. The two systems combined offer the ultimate solution from the very design of products through to the shipping and invoicing.

We are exhibiting at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Show on Stand S91 so if you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please visit us at our stand or contact us;

MIE Solutions

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Metamation

Email us: sales@metamation.com

Call us: 01527 916 578

Visit our website: www.metamation.com

Reaching stamping quality goals with MIE Trak Pro ERP software

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 16/07/2019

Quality starts with informed decisions

An ERP software system can provide dashboards, reports, accurate data, and standards and procedures.

To meet customers’ demands, delivering quality products without defects is critical. Therefore, for any manufacturing company, quality control is critical too.

To achieve this, stamping manufacturers must monitor many areas in their manufacturing process by quality capture and reporting.

The Role of MIE Trak Pro ERP Software in Quality Control

An effective quality control system has several components. The following describes the top three:

Dashboards and Reports. What if you could view a dashboard on your computer that graphically and quickly reveals all the quality issues and trends in your company? What if those dashboards could be accessed and understood by everyone in your company?
Accurate Data. Achieving a reliable and actionable reporting system with dashboards and reports requires one thing: accurate data. Without it, your colorful graphs may be pretty but useless. Data is king. But how do you continuously and consistently capture reliable data?
Standards. Standards and procedures that are easy to follow, with minimal extra data input, are critical. If your management and employees do not fully buy into the quality process, you will be spinning your wheels to capture accurate data.

Dashboards, reports, accurate data, and standards and procedures are what a robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) software system can provide. Therefore, a full ERP software system is a critical part of any comprehensive quality control strategy. It integrates both process control and management reporting in your shop.

Capturing data regarding quality in these four areas in your shop will increase the efficiency, reputation, and profitability of your company.

1. Customer-side Quality

At its most basic level, a true ERP system allows you to create orders, ship products, and bill each customer for your products.

When a customer has a problem with one of your products, you want to be able to handle the return process as smoothly and efficiently as possible. This is where a return merchandise authorization (RMA) comes in.

Many organizations require that their suppliers meet international standards.

Every quality system should permit you to create an RMA. It should allow a customer to thoroughly outline all details regarding the return of a product. These include part number, specifications missed, inspector notes, failure types, root cause analysis, and corrective actions. The ERP system should also provide containment actions, work flow, and disposition processing—all of which should be smoothly integrated.

A robust ERP system can aggregate the data from the quality control records to display dashboards and scorecards. These one-stop views of your data can display significant trends by:

Part
Customer
Failure areas
Responsible departments

2. Quality From Suppliers

When your company receives a defective product from a supplier, you should be able to record the defect information and report it to the source. As your company inspects incoming products and you find defects, you would create a nonconformance material reporting (NCMR).

The NCMR is the vehicle that allows you to notify the supplier, who can then send you a replacement part, credit, or repair. NCMRs contain the same data points as RMAs with the addition of the supplier-specific information.

Any good ERP system that provides a QC module should include this process.

Again, a robust ERP system can aggregate the data from NCMRs to create a “report card” that you can send to your suppliers. The report card outlines each supplier’s quality issues or its excellent performance. The report cards can encourage your suppliers to deliver quality parts.

MIE Trak pro ERP software system’s dashboard offers an at-a-glance overview of all systems.

3. In-house Process Quality

In some cases, you want to be able to report a quality request that is not job-related. Examples of this include process improvements such as a request for updated documentation, safety

problems related to a part, and audit information. This is the role of corrective and preventive action request (CPAR). You can also use a CPAR to log information for root cause analysis and corrective actions. This is another important tool provided by a quality control system.

4. In-house Product Quality

Often a product or material must be scrapped during the manufacturing process. When this occurs, an efficient company captures the relevant information. In this case, an employee would create a record of the event directly on the shop floor where the failure occurred. This is another purpose for the NCMR.

A good ERP system can handle product inspections and be able to create an NCMR.

Also, a dashboard can display all NCMRs in real time. The dashboard then becomes a trusted tool that monitors both machine and employee quality, producing data on which you can base meaningful actions.

Dashboards that contain inaccurate data will not provide the information to make business process improvements. ERP software that contains an integrated quality control system and accurate data creates the potential for actionable dashboards.

Integrating Quality Standards With MIE Trak Pro ERP Software

To help you meet customer requirements, your quality control system must be capable of handling ISO 9001 and AS9100 standards (see Quality Standards and Manufacturing Primer sidebar).

Also, when reviewing ERP software, make sure it includes a comprehensive and integrated quality system that produces dashboards and reports, making your business more efficient.

With the features described here, quality control becomes an integral aspect of managing a manufacturing business from start to finish. The ERP software system becomes highly useful to ensure that your product’s quality is monitored and improved.

Do you actually know the cost of a job?

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 19/10/2015

The general rule of thumb when it comes to running a manufacturing business is to make a profit. There are a few different approaches and theories when it comes to pricing up jobs. The most common approach is to use your costs and then apply a mark up in order to make money. This formula is very simple with only 2 general variables and is almost flawless once calculated properly. It all sounds so simple, but there is one common problem faced by many how much is that job costing me to manufacture?

Whether you do use the formula above, or any other for that matter, it is imperative to know how much a job is costing you to manufacture. With so many factors that can affect your base cost, it is always going to be something that changes over time. Whether it is due to a raise in material costs or even the fact that your new machine operator is a slower worker than the one before, the tracking of costs can have a detrimental effect if not traced properly.

MIETrak Pro offers many features that make this an easy process. For parts that are manufactured time and time again, we have a range of costing methods available at the click of a button. Users can choose from a standard cost, average cost, last cost, FIFO (first in first out) cost and landed cost. Each part made has its own costing tab that compares your estimated vs. actual. From here you can then pinpoint exactly where each cost is coming from. MIETrak has a built in production overview that uses a traffic light system to alert you the second a job on the shop floor is costing you more than you had estimated.

There may be instances where you quote jobs on certain machines or quote materials purchased from certain suppliers. If that quote then becomes an order, the system will remember the exact machine and supplier used, and then schedule and purchase accordingly. Long gone are the days of manually updating a spreadsheet and referring to different systems in order to keep on top of your ever changing costs.

If you would like any more information or would like to discuss your requirements in further detail then please either;

Email us: sales@mie-solutions.co.uk

Call us: 01527 576 444

Visit our website: www.mie-solutions.co.uk

Seasons Greetings

MIE Solutions UK Ltd — 22/12/2015

From the team here at MIE Solutions, we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2016!