Mar-Bal uses advanced manufacturing ERP software, developed by IQMS, to meet the challenges of modern manufacturing and produce a variety of products for a diverse customer base.
The EnterpriseIQ (IQ) ERP system is a manufacturing industry-focused data collection and analysis system coupled with functionality to manage each area of business operations – from purchasing to inventory management, sales orders to work orders, and shipments to invoicing.
IQ allows Mar-Bal to measure and analyze nearly every element of our unique manufacturing environment, whether it be a high-level overview or production and labor details for a single operation.
Production, quality, and cost data from our manufacturing operations – thermoset composite material production, molding, finishing, and assembly – is collected by and in IQ and analyzed using an array of built-in and custom-developed reports and automated monitoring actions. With these capabilities our employees are able to make decisions backed by data for continuous improvement of our product quality and operational efficiency. Much of this data is also provided to our customers in the form of custom reports, product labeling, shipping documents, and serial/lot tracking information.
Here are a few highlights of the EnterpriseIQ system as used at Mar-Bal:
- The IQ MRP engine uses customer demand data (collected via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and other means), combined with stock target levels and multi-level bills of material (BOMs), to determine production and raw material requirements.
- Manufacturing equipment is monitored by the IQ RealTime system for automated recording of machine production hours, actual cycle times, total cycles, and down-time intervals.
- Machine down-time intervals are coded to allow tracking of down-time reasons -- preventive maintenance, product changeover, equipment repair, etc.
- IQ’s labor tasking system ties each employee’s hours directly to a production work order, job setup, or other work assignment.
- IQ’s labeling and inventory features allow all raw materials and products to be barcode labeled to internal and/or customer requirements, tied to production data (manufacture date and shift, materials used, press, tool, etc.) and managed via handheld mobile computers.
- Production reporting, assisted by RealTime system data, ties produced items to components and raw materials for traceability.
- Actual performance vs. standard, internal and consigned/VMI stock levels vs. target, on-time delivery – these are just a few examples of reporting and/or monitoring used at Mar-Bal.
The data and tools provided by EnterpriseIQ are one of many components that allow Mar-Bal to meet and exceed the broad and dynamic requirements of our customers.
