Manufacturing and Distribution

Key Issues and Challenges

What is the basis for success in the manufacturing arena? The old formula still holds true: increase efficiency and cut costs. However, competitive companies need to focus on other issues as well. Challenges for the manufacturing and distribution market include:

• Creating innovative products
• Supply chain integration
• Linking ERP back end with front-office operations
• Increase return on investment (ROI)
• Faster time-to-market
• Provide superior customer service

Manufacturing companies need to know what the customer wants today, and develop innovative products, tailoring them to customer needs and delivering them to markets quickly. Linking the back office applications (ERP/ERM) with front office (CRM, web, call centers, field service) operations and integrating processes in order to share critical data with supply chain partners are means to create vital flexibility and increase efficiency. Achieving these objectives translates into improved customer service, faster time-to-market and return on investment.

The difficulty is how to achieve these goals. For many manufacturing and distribution organizations, existing ERP and business-critical back office applications reside on legacy (i.e. mainframe, AS/400) systems. These legacy systems are proven, quick, reliable, and crucial to the enterprise. Yet the market-driven demand for information threatens to render them obsolete due to the inability to easily access the legacy data. Until recently, to meet this demand for immediate information, the only courses of action were to rewrite the code for legacy applications or completely replace the back office with a new system. This often proves financially impossible or unrealistic. Fortunately, there is a way to leverage existing legacy systems while achieving these necessary business objectives.

ResQNet Solution

ResQNet.com provides a means for companies to leverage their AS/400 or mainframe backend through web or wireless enablement. Mission critical legacy back end applications are provided a web front end via a customizable graphical user interface (GUI). Not only are the unpleasing green screens associated with legacy systems replaced by a user-friendly GUI, the information can now be viewed using a web browser via an intranet, extranet, internet or wireless/handheld device. ResQNet meets the industry’s urgent need to web-enable without risking change to the valuable host source code as well as extends the functionality of the current system by integrating data from various sources (other hosts, XML, SQL databases, etc…).

ResQNet.com offers a range of products based on the customer’s host-access requirements:

ResQNet. This is an intranet and extranet solution. ResQNet features a true terminal emulator. Legacy system green screens are web-enabled and rejuvenated, and viewed using a web browser.

ResQPortal. The ResQPortal solution allows remote access to legacy data via the Internet. ResQPortal can be utilized for self-service portals for customers, partners and employees.

ResQ/ME. ResQNet.com’s wireless-to-host solution extends legacy systems to PDAs, palms, cellular phones and other handheld devices. Field personnel, warehouse floor workers, and mobile executives are able to access real-time host data remotely.

Transforming your enterprise with ResQNet

Manufacturing companies can streamline operations dramatically by linking manufacturing units worldwide and embracing Customer Relationship Management as an integral part of the enterprise. Integrating front-end systems with back-end ERP solutions can help to extend the functionality of the supply chain. ResQNet technology can be applied to all levels and departments of an enterprise. Some examples of applications include:

• Customers, partners, distributors can search for and order replacement parts via Internet call center or self service portal 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Provide part availability status to customers, partner, distributors
• Allow customers to track placed orders via the Internet for delivery status. Customers can register online for product returns.
• Shop floor control - implement handheld devices for real-time ordering and delivery scheduling of required components or materials when needed so as not to unnecessarily tie up money or valuable shelf space
• Warehouse Inventory - implement handheld devices with scanners to upload inventory information to corporate databases. Enable access to real-time location of parts.
• Handheld devices allow management and workers to track work-in-progress and quality control.
• Employee self-support - empower employees to update HR records, timesheets, view company policies and frequently asked employee questions via a company intranet self-service portal
• Provide mobile warriors, sales force and corporate management with the ability to access back-end data while on the road - information such as worker efficiency, sales figures, inventory numbers can be viewed real-time through a handheld device

As a result of the ability to leverage existing host systems and extend their functionality, the enterprise benefits are numerous. Operations become more efficient, and unnecessary staff and costs can be reduced. Due to more efficient operations, products can be delivered to the customer faster. Customer and employee satisfaction can be at its highest ever through improved worker conditions and the ability to access information with ease. Furthermore, the return on investment is outstanding: total cost of ownership is very low, and an old, but reliable system gets a new lease on life.

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