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MWUG News – Winter 2011 1
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
Gearing Up For Spring Anne Holmes, MWUG President
In just a few short weeks I hope to see many of you in Oak Brook at the Spring 2011 QAD Midwest User Group (MWUG) conference. I know it’s not always easy to take time away from the office, but we encourage you to do so. Your MWUG Board of Directors works hard to put together an event that is both educational and entertaining. For this Spring’s conference, we are going to try something different for Monday morning’s schedule. We will break things up a bit, and hold one break‐out session before lunch, and then the Keynote speaker will be immediately after lunch. We’re responding to comments received that Monday morning tends to “drag on” a bit. Please give us feedback on this new format, or if you have further suggestions, please let us know. Monday’s keynote will feature Dr. Mark Taylor. He will be speaking on how to manage within the multi‐generational workplace ‐ a topic to which we can all relate. The generations do communicate and interact in different ways, and if it has not yet been an issue for you or your company, it likely will sometime in the future. One of our board members has heard Dr. Taylor speak and gave him excellent reviews. We hope you enjoy the change. We have put together a great mix of sessions, and strived to find as many customer case studies as possible since these are always highly requested. We have been able to line up almost a dozen sessions where we will have users speak, or feature a case study based on a fellow QAD customer. If any of you have desire to present at a future conference, definitely get in touch with any board member. We’d love to have you! I also encourage you to attend because it gives you an opportunity to learn about various vendors who participate in the “QAD world” and the various products and services they provide. From personal experience, I definitely can say that this interaction has helped me out many times in my job at Morrison Products of identifying and implementing needed Business Solutions. As always, I’ll close with the reminder that we are continually looking for ways to improve the conferences and our overall services as an organization. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please contact me or any one of the 11 Board members ‐‐ we always welcome new insights.
MWUG News Winter 2011 The Official Publication of the Midwest User Group
Welcome…
to the Midwest User Group News,
the official newsletter available
exclusively for MWUG members.
This quarterly publication features
regular updates on user group events
and activities, QAD news releases, and
in-depth articles of interest to QAD
users. We welcome your feedback – if
you have an article of interest or other
newsworthy contribution you would like
to share with other members, please
contact the MWUG Office.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: Gearing Up For Spring……… 1 by Anne Holmes, MWUG President MWUG Spring 2011 Conference Agenda…………. 2 Productivity From the Shop Floor……………………… 4 QAD and APICS………..….….. 6 by Greg Jones, FN Manufacturing QAD Moves Customers to Latest Interface……………. 6 Aberdeen Published Report on QAD OnDemand………….. 7
356 Montserrat Drive Redwood City, CA 94065 Ph: 650.654.2067 Fax: 650.654.2075 [email protected]
www.MidwestUserGroup.org
©2011 Midwest User Group. All rights reserved.
In This Issue…
Midwest User Group
QAD Users Connect
Board of Directors PRESIDENT Anne Holmes Morrison Products Cleveland, OH
SECRETARY David Ruetz Driv-Lok, Inc Sycamore, IL
TREASURER Daniel Higgins RCM Technologies Farmington Hills, MI
DIRECTORS David Doyle QAD, Inc. Grand Rapids, MI Scott Dulecki BravePoint Grand Rapids, MI Maureen Hunt QAD, Inc. Mt. Laurel, NJ Michael Olson Continental Plastics Troy, MI Shirley Schmidt Freedom Technologies Brighton, MI Randy Whitehair Freudenberg-NOK Plymouth, MI Paul Zarazinksi Culligan International Rosemont, IL
MWUG News – Winter 2011 2
5:00pm Registration Opens / Vendor Fair Set-Up Tote Bags sponsored by: THIRDWARE SOLUTION
8:00am Registration Opens / Vendor Fair Opens Breakfast sponsored by:
9:30am GeneralSession Welcome & Program Overview & Vendor Introductions Breaks sponsored by: 10:45 – 11:45am ConcurrentTrackSessions
MANUFACTURING FINANCIAL TECHNICAL BUSINESS PROCESS
Operational Metrics
PATRICK GRACE – QAD, Inc.
Operational Metrics provide a way to frequently review planning performance and the quality of the data used in your operations. It allows you to see a problem in any of a number of key areas and to trace the problem back to root causes. Operational Metrics track the diagnostic measurements that support a company’s vital signs—helping you make decisions for leaner and more efficient production.
Top 10 Reasons to Implement EE
MARIA BALLUCH – QAD, Inc.
This session will cover the new features of EE Financials such as Statutory Currency, Reporting Layers, Process Manufacturing, Progress-native auditing, multiple time zone support, and more!
QXtend Based Mass Data Load Utility
GARY YANG - Roundview Tech
KETAN PATEL - Visteon Corp.
This session will present the mass data load tool set based on QXtend Inbound, QXI Progress API and file upload API developed with WebSpeed and QAD .Net UI infrastructure. This tool has the potential to dramatically reduce the data conversion data exception resolution cycle and its architecture is ready for the QAD Enterprise Edition financials.
Case Study: Custom Web Browser Apps
S. BLAUBACH - App Technologies
T. CONNER - Scotsman Ice T. WELCH – Merz Aesthetics
Hear how custom QAD-integrated busi-ness applications are being developed which are accessible on Desktop PCs, iPads / Tablet PCs and SmartPhones via a web browser. Case Studies for a War-ranty Registration System and Customer Service Portal will also be presented.
12:00pm Luncheon sponsored by:
2:30 – 3:30pm ConcurrentTrackSessions
MANUFACTURING FINANCIAL TECHNICAL BUSINESS PROCESS
Error Proofing Plant Processes
JOHN PIATEK SHIRLEY SCHMIDT Freedom Technologies
Customers expect nothing less than 100% quality in parts placed in containers, labeled correctly and delivered just-in-time. How can you change your practices to meet supply chain customers standards and still maintain profitability? Find out how error proofing can help manage and control production and ensure the correctness of manufacturing and shipping and still cut costs.
XBRL: Is It In Your Future?
LANCE LaCROSS – QAD, Inc.
In 2011, the SEC will require all publically traded companies to submit their financial statements in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). XBRL is a language for the electronic communication of business and financial data that offers provides major benefits in the preparation, analysis and communication of business information. It offers cost savings, greater efficiency and improved accuracy and reliability to all those involved in supplying or using financial data.
Troubleshooting AppServers & WebSpeed
DAN FOREMAN - BravePoint
AppServers and WebSpeed Agents have become a fundamental part of Progress application development. However these tools introduce additional layers of complexity (including Java) that did not exist in the era of character and fat client GUI development. This session covers best practices for efficient and trouble-free setup and operation, then continues with strategies for troubleshooting when problems occur.
Implementing QAD in Foreign Countries
GREG SEVISON PHILL NORREY AmSafe
What considerations and obstacles might one face when implementing QAD in a foreign country? This session will examine some of the issues to address during the implementation process if they are to achieve success. Infrastructure, application issues, set-up, user interface, as well as experience and challenges faced in a QAD implementation in China will be discussed.
3:30pm Break / Visit the Exhibits
4:00 – 5:00pm
Synchronize Manufacturing Planning & Execution
C. NIEUWSTRATEN - QAD, Inc.
The new QAD Planning and Scheduling workbenches have demonstrated the capability to provide visibility and control in generating more accurate mid range master schedules and short term produc-tion schedules.
Streamlining the AP Process With Imaging, OCR, and SharePoint
PAUL ZARAZINKSI - Culligan
This presentation will discuss how Culligan streamlined its accounts payable process through the use of imaging, OCR, third party tools and implementing workflow.
.Net UI Reporting Framework
STACY ELWOOD - BravePoint
This session will include the steps to quickly create a new report using QAD's .NET UI Reporting Framework, as well as how to schedule it to run in a batch processor.
KPI, BI, and Quality Control in QAD
LEE PERRY – Service Wire Co.
Service Wire will demonstrate the solution used to meet the customers demand for capacity and durability while minimizing raw material use. This solution, fully integrated to QAD, uses Silverlight, pre-engineered, formula-driven key performance indicators.
!
SUNDAY March20
QAD Product Demo Center
Come to the Product Demo Center and experience live product demonstrations. QAD Consultants will be available for on-demand demos of scheduled products. The informal setting allows for you to ask product questions specific to your needs.
MONDAY .Net UI See not only the .NET UI, but also check out the Reporting Framework, Operational Metrics, and Process maps. EAM Projects Four project types are now supported in Project Controls attend the full session Tuesday at 11:15, and see the new EAM Project UI live. Bring your Project questions to the demo room and review the solution! TUESDAY
.Net UI See not only the .NET UI, but also check out the Reporting Framework, Operational Metrics, and Process maps. CRM QAD Customer Relationship Management is a complete solution to help you acquire, sell to, and retain your customers. The Customer Management Solution includes Sales Force and Marketing Automation.
MONDAY March21
LUNCHEON ADDRESS: Managing for Success in the Multi-Generational Workplace Dr. MARK TAYLOR, M.S.W., Ed.D
Today’s workplace can be an exciting, though not always harmonious, mixture of four generational cohorts; older Traditionals, mature Boomers, early to mid-career Xers and our youngest workers from Generation NeXt. Nationally recognized educator, expert, speaker and consultant Dr. Mark Taylor will address the generational traits, issues and dynamics in the workplace with specific, immediately applicable suggestions for developing the most productive, positive and effective work setting for all workers.
REGISTER TODAY at:
www.MidwestUserGroup.org FOUR for THREE DISCOUNT: Register THREE… and bring a fourth for FREE! Open to user registrants ONLY.
or call: (650) 654-2067
MWUGSpring2011 March 20-22, 2011 Marriott Chicago Oak Brook Oak Brook, IL
MWUG News – Winter 2011 3
5:00 pm Networking / Vendor Fair Reception Reception sponsored by:
7:30am Vendor Fair Opens / Continental Breakfast Breakfast sponsored by:
8:30 – 9:30am ConcurrentTrackSessions MANUFACTURING POTPOURRI TECHNICAL BUSINESS PROCESS
Combining CPFR With S&OP to Produce Satisfied Customers
MARK WILLIAMS – QAD, Inc.
This presentation will look at two sides of collaboration, both external – Collabora-tive, Planning, Forecasting & Replenish-ment (CPFR) - and internal - Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP). We will discuss how a manufacturing/distribution company combined Collaborative, Planning, Forecasting & Replenishment (CPFR) and Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) to improve forecast accuracy from 49% to 80% and increase customer service level from 85% to 96% in one year, while reducing inventory!
Customer Case Study: EE Implementation
RICK JOHNSON / BILL SPITTAL Hendrickson International
Hendrickson International is a global manufacturer and supplier of vehicle suspensions and heavy-duty springs who recently went live on QAD EE at their Auxiliary Axle facility. Come listen to their story of the project's background, success, goals and future expectations related to the beginning of their series of QAD EE implementations.
Developing Custom QAD-Integrated Web Browser Apps
SCOTT BLAUBACH App Technologies
Do you need to integrate your unique business processes with your QAD environment? This session will highlight design and technical considerations for developing effective integrated business Apps accessible on Desktops, iPads, Tablet PCs and SmartPhones via a web browser.
Smart Plant: Automating Your Business Processes
MARY GROW JHP Pharmaceuticals
JHP has ambitious plans to expand growth and extract more productivity out of their current asset base while maintaining their business as a high quality, 21st-century manufacturer. Come and hear how they intend to integrate their ERP system with their plant execution and quality management systems to improve compliance, increase efficiencies, and grow their bottom line.
9:30am Break / Visit the Exhibits Breaks sponsored by:
10:00 – 11:00am
New Demand Driven MRP at Wellman
NICK WEIDNER Wellman Products
In May of 2011 the third revised edition of Orlicky’s Material Requirements Planning will be published. The book will introduce a new type of planning system and logic that fits the highly variable and volatile 21st Century global manufacturing and supply landscape – Demand Driven MRP. Wellman Products Group, a QAD user, is an early adopter of these techniques and will share their experiences and results.
Increase Your Competitiveness With CRM
PATRICK GRACE – QAD, Inc.
Businesses need industrial strength tools to acquire, service, and support their most important asset. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) provides a 360-degree view of your customer, integrating customer information at every touch point. Spend some time with us as we review how this application can benefit your organization.
Belly Up to The UltraToolBar
PAUL GUGGENHEIM Paul Guggenheim & Associates
Are you thinking of migrating your existing application to GUI for .NET? Or do you want to take advantage of the wonderful features of the Infragistics UltraToolBar in a new application? This presentation will highlight features of the UltraToolBar, including how to embed a Progress GUI Window inside a .NET Form and utilize the UltraToolBar menu with the existing application.
CMS Based Business Portal
MATT JOHNSON - Oxbo
PRASHANTH RAI - Thirdware
To serve their growth, Oxbo was looking for an enhanced business portal powered by a Content Management System and integrated with their QAD and Microsoft CRM. Oxbo and Thirdware developed a enhanced B2B and B2C portal with functionalities such as dynamic content management, cloud-based media delivery, inventory search, lead capture, warranty registration and much more.
11:00am Break / Visit the Exhibits
11:15am – 12:15pm
EAM Project Management: A Fresh Look
SARA SUHR – QAD, Inc.
Take a look at what’s new in Project Controls in EAM v12.3. Four project types are now supported in Project Controls helping ALL stakeholders get what they need when they need it, bringing projects in on time and on budget.
QAD Reporting and Form Generation
PATRICK GRACE – QAD, Inc.
The QAD Reporting Framework was developed to accommodate requirements for frequent access to as well as specific output needs. The framework includes an intuitive drag-and-drop designer, a viewer and a batch scheduler. Easily maintained QAD .NET UI browses can be one of the many data sources for reports, allows output to .PDF or Excel, is printer-enabled and supports barcode printing.
Session TBD
Supply Chain Best Practices That Enable Superior Performance
HANK CANITZ – QAD, Inc.
This session will focus on manufacturing industry mega trends, internal best practices, as well as best practices for customers and suppliers.
12:30 pm Luncheon / Conference Wrap-Up & Door Prizes Luncheon sponsored by:
TUESDAY March22
MARRIOTT CHICAGO
OAK BROOK 1401 W. 22nd Street Oak Brook, IL 60523
Experience the warm atmosphere of the newly renovated Chicago Marriott Oak Brook, a premier Chicago area hotel featuring well‐appointed accommo‐dations with gracious ameni‐ties and state‐of‐the‐art tech‐nology. Amenities include a fitness center, indoor pool and whirlpool, over 18,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, and 24‐hour business center. Fabulous shopping at the Oakbrook Center is just across from the hotel, and the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook offers an ideal locale just 25 minutes from down‐town Chicago, between O'Hare International and Midway Airport.
ONSITE AMENITIES: Wireless internet Fully‐equipped 24‐Hour Business Center
Indoor Pool / Whirlpool Fitness Center
ROOM RESERVATIONS: Sleeping Rooms have been blocked at the hotel and are available to conference attendees at a discounted group rate. Please be sure to reference the MFG/PRO Midwest User Group when making your reservations.
MMUG Conference Rate: $128/night (sgl/dbl)
Reservations: (800) 228‐9290
www.marriott.com
SPEAKERS & SESSIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
www.midwestusergroup.org
JOIN TODAY:
MWUG News – Winter 2011 4
Productivity From the Shop Floor by Radley Corporation, Data Collection Division ADC has unquestionably evolved beyond just barcodes and RFID. Automating data collection, today, allows you to easily and quickly enter manufacturing data at the point of execution and then access that data in an up‐to‐date view in QAD that presents you with the real‐time business intelligence you need to make informed and effective decisions. Modern automated data collection systems often provide a much needed agility boost to currently installed business systems.
Easily configurable and exceedingly flexible, today’s ADC systems readily adapt to your unique business processes. Accommodating data capture from multiple sources, including PLC machinery, scales, and sensors, automated data collection systems will often have the ability to interface with multiple applications & databases.
Usability and worker acceptance are enhanced by graphical user interfaces that present the familiar look and feel of today’s most popular cell phones and consumer electronics. Worker efficiency can increase dramatically with intelligent prompting (defaulted values and no unnecessary clicking) on easy‐to‐learn, and even easier‐to‐use responsive mobile devices. A sustainable ADC system may offer .NET, will support 2D technology (including the migration), and often offers remote device management, as well as document and image capturing. KEEPING IT REAL WITH PRACTICAL EXAMPLES Although there are many examples of how Automated Data Collection boosts QAD User productivity, we have selected two QAD Transactions to illustrate how ADC is used to optimize workflow execution. As you read, keep in mind your own unique business processes. By automating data collection the possibilities for process improvement and increased productivity are virtually unlimited.
Advanced Repetitive Backflush An experienced QAD User will navigate the data entry screens of a typical Advanced Repetitive Backflush Transaction using two or more function keys as information is entered into approximately fifteen to twenty fields. However, on the shop floor, automated data collection transforms this same transaction into five barcode scans easily accomplished by the average shop floor worker.
By rapid background searches for key data, defaulting fields with that data whenever possible, and by taking advantage of automatic odometers to assign finished good lot numbers/serial numbers, the Advanced Repetitive Backflush is now quickly and easily accomplished at the point of execution, yet still immediately visible in QAD.
Workflow Execution Optimized for Maximum Productivity — Meeting Quality Traceability Requirements
The Challenge: Meet Quality Traceability requirements by collecting the Heat Numbers for steel used in the components of products shipped from a facility in Asia. A standalone application being used for attribute tracking in the U.S. plant is cumbersome and does not interface with QAD. The objective for the Asia facility is to use a scaled‐down solution that interfaces with, and validates against, their QAD On Demand environment. How It’s Done: The ADC application addresses both heat number collection and label printing requirements. While traceability transactions do not actually perform any updates to QAD, the QAD database is available for validations. Heat numbers and manufacture dates are tracked. Unique serial numbers are assigned by the data collection system and then barcoded labels are printed for each sub‐assembly. These are later scanned to create a master label for the completed assembly. For example, at Workstation X, a transaction creates labels that contain barcoded heat number data. These labels move with the component parts. This makes it possible to enter heat number data at each assembly step. If component parts are received from suppliers, they also can receive labels that include barcoded heat number data. If required, an ADC Transaction will interface with a stencil tool which automatically engraves the license‐plate number assigned for the sub‐assembly (based on heat numbers for the different types of sub‐assemblies) onto a metal identification plate for attachment to the sub‐assembly. Serial and customer labels are then printed by entering (or selecting from a list displayed on the touch‐screen of the hand‐held barcode scanner) the license‐plate number stenciled on the plate. As sub‐assemblies are created at other workstations, a worker prints serialized labels that contain all of the traceability attributes, including the heat number data. After the sub‐components are assembled and labeled they are scanned for incorporation into a master label.
Continued on Page 5
MWUG News – Winter 2011 5
Continued from Page 4
Then, with only one scan of the master label, all sub‐assemblies are updated. Query and reporting functionality provides the ability to query the ADC data base by attribute (i.e., serial number, heat number, station ID, or the date the serial label was generated), and query capabilities are practically unlimited. SHIPPER WORKBENCH When using an automated data collection system a Shipper WorkBench Transaction is typically completed in only three barcode scans! 1) Scan your Ship To; 2) Scan your Container (label license‐plate); and 3) Scan the pull‐from location. Upon completion the shipping labels are automatically printed.
When needed, a verification process can be built‐in to ensure all of the products staged for shipment are also loaded onto the truck. Using Shipper Verify/Confirm, the containers are scanned as they are being loaded onto the truck. The hand‐held device will tell the worker if anything is missing. After
loading, all QAD documents are printed automatically, along with any other shipping labels that might be needed. Even that little box for “Post Invoice” can be automatically checked! Defaulting and auto‐populating as much data as possible eliminates the guesswork. It all happens behind the scenes and removes the opportunities for unnecessary errors. LABEL LICENSE PLATING A QAD Container is built from the License Plate and scanned serial numbers and then updated via QAD 7.7.1 Container Workbench. One document per Serial Number is created and printed for the customer specific build.
The Challenge: QA test and approve product – and track this information for future reference ‐ before putting serial numbers into the active finished goods inventory in QAD.
How It’s Done: A Serial Number is created and stored in a license‐plating capable database. A license‐plate label is then created with an “INACTIVE” status. The creation of
this label triggers a QAD “Receipt – Backward Exploded” Transaction which automatically back flushes the component items in QAD. If the product passes QA, a standard backflush transaction is sent to QAD to CREATE the Finished Goods (FG) inventory. Since the components are already consumed in the first step, you do not backflush them at this time. The license‐plate label created above now becomes “ACTIVE” and the SERIAL number (License‐plate) can now be etched onto the FG product. If the product fails Quality review, the Serial Number (in the license‐plate database) is assigned a “REJECTED” status, and stored along with the REASON for the rejection. Reprocess the product to “fix” any issues and resubmit to QA. Using this process also adds traceability to failures. Tracking back to who built a product enables identifying the appropriate personnel for in‐depth discussion and analysis of the failure. This is very helpful when determining root cause and developing corrective actions. Creating personalized queries into the Label License‐Plating database provides a meaningful view of Quality histories.
Summary As the Data Collection Evolution continues, leveraging technology to meet rising business demands is certain to result in easier integration and expanding functionality. As you examine automating data collection for your own unique processes, we hope you begin to see the possibilities. Thank you for your time. For further information please visit www.radley.com.
MWUG News – Winter 2011 6
QAD and APICS by Greg Jones, FN Manufacturing
The equation is simple. If you are running a manufacturing company, a major push for you is better‐faster‐cheaper. Get everyone APICS certified. I mean everyone. Planners? Yes. Buyers? Yes. Managers? Yes. Upper‐level managers? Yes. Expediters, inventory specialists, and hourly employees? Yes.
The Why is simple. You are using QAD. QAD is built off of APICS concepts. For at least the last 2‐3 years, SEUG’s keynote speakers have explicitly mentioned that little factoid. To know APICS, at least their CPIM certification, is to know a whole lot about how QAD works. Knowing that ought to make it dramatically easier for people to learn, or better learn, the system.
It turns out that APICS concepts are also best practices. Having gone through the home study guides myself, I saw oodles of great ideas that our company could use to improve. But getting everyone on board with the training would be the single biggest payoff, because that would allow the people performing the various jobs to have those insights themselves. Where I might see a good idea, they could tie a string of tidbits into a great one. And even with a decent idea that you come up with yourself, you are more likely to invest more passion, energy, and drive into implementing.
I've hesitated to write an article about this. But there are a couple of other pertinent points that pushed me past my procrastination. Over and over, the very friendly vendors at these user group meetings have said, "Don't think what goes on at your plant is unique." So while I should be on my hands and knees begging the senior staff of my own company to get APICS certified, that vendor mantra means it is probably a good idea at your plant as well. But that isn't the biggest reason.
The biggest reason I'm pushing this is that you have a limited amount of time, money, and energy to run your business. The APICS material, at least the CPIM‐specific material, falls in that realm of common‐knowledge‐but‐not‐really‐that‐common. One of our finance gurus patiently spent hours explaining variances to me, years ago, just to be able to explain a problem. If I had already gone through the CPIM material, that would have been a 15 minute conversation about her specific concern! How much time could we have saved? What if she hadn't had the patience of a saint?
Over and over, I find myself in meetings where people argue endlessly over vaguely defined terms and concepts. How much does that translate into squandered resources? I've certainly spoken with people who tactfully point out that APICS is not a perfect solution. I agree. I'm open to other ideas and approaches. But as of yet, I'm not aware of another solution. For now, I'll push what I know.
QAD Moves Customers to Latest Interface at No Charge
Earlier this Fall QAD announced a new program to provide the newest QAD .NET user interface (QAD .NET UI) to qualified customers globally. QAD prides itself on the feature-rich QAD .NET UI, the latest and best-engineered user interface for its QAD Enterprise Applications, and wants customers to enjoy its benefits and ease of use—for no charge.
“We are so excited about .NET UI and its capabilities to enhance our customers’ access to QAD’s business application solutions, that we want to make it easy for everyone to deploy,” said Pamela Lopker, president and founder of QAD. “We’ve put together a specialized team to help our customers install, get trained on, and start using the .NET user interface immediately, allowing them to reap the benefits today.” The QAD .NET UI is a fresh, intuitive, easy-to-use user interface built on Microsoft’s .NET technology. QAD .NET UI delivers a superior user experience and reduced training time by leveraging familiar metaphors, search, and favorites. Customers using QAD .NET UI gain greater access to information including pivot-table like functionality, integration with Microsoft Excel, enhanced compliance through the use of process maps to guide infrequent tasks and operational metrics to identify anomalies. “We are driving continual enhancements to the .NET user interface,” said Bill Keese, senior vice president of Research and Development for QAD. “We want our customers to truly have a world class experience when using QAD’s software by having easy-to-use software, and comprehensive data access, right at their fingertips.” Customers enrolled in QAD’s maintenance program and on select software versions, receive a defined package of software, services, and training when they participate in the Ready Now! Uplift program. In as little as 1-3 weeks, and at no additional cost, customers can enjoy the benefits of QAD .NET UI. The program includes a free system assessment, pre-tested and validated software, and system administrator and power user training. For QAD customers ready to upgrade, the Ready Now! Upgrade program offers full software upgrades for QAD customers on maintenance. The Ready Now! Upgrade program gives customers all the robust features and functionality of QAD .NET UI and QAD Enterprise Applications.QAD recognizes the challenges faced by their customers and brings to that challenge a combination of vision, commitment and technology to help them excel in today’s environment. To learn more about QAD’s Ready Now! programs, visit QAD’s Ready Now! Center or visit the QAD Web site.
Reprinted by permission.
QAD’s Ready Now! Program Improves Productivity, Reduces Training Time, and Ensures Greater Compliance
MWUG News – Winter 2011 7
Aberdeen Group Publishes Report on QAD OnDemand
In January, QAD announced that Aberdeen Group, a leading firm of technology analysts, has published QAD On Demand Gives Manufacturers the Tools They Need to Become Global– its latest Analyst Insight report – in which it cites QAD as a pioneer in delivering a complete Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution in a Software as a Service (SaaS) delivery model.
This report is the latest in a series of Aberdeen research reports exploring trends and observations around companies’ willingness to adopt SaaS for ERP versus standard on‐premise solutions. “Some ERP providers have been ahead of the curve in acting on this willingness,” Aberdeen stated in its report. “QAD was among the first to offer ERP in the SaaS model with QAD On Demand.”
QAD Enterprise Applications On Demand is a SaaS solution that delivers all of the functionality of QAD’s On Premise applications, while reducing the total cost of ownership. All of the software, systems and infrastructure are managed and administered by QAD in a secure, reliable data center complying to SAS 70 standards for security and delivering availability greater than 99%, thereby mitigating many of the IT and financial risks associated with ERP implementation and operation.
Aberdeen identifies multiple reasons that explain why companies consider a SaaS option for their ERP solution. Among the reasons most often cited by respondents in a 2010 Aberdeen survey were: a lower total cost of ownership (TCO), the reduced cost and effort of upgrading and lower up‐front costs. “QAD On Demand is priced to address some of these cost factors,” noted Aberdeen in its report. “If you consider all of the associated costs of running an on‐premise solution, including hardware, software and supporting staff, the all‐inclusive price of QAD On Demand is lower than the average cost of a traditional licensed on‐premise solution.”
Moreover, Aberdeen’s survey responses indicate that QAD should expect a further uptick in QAD On Demand adoption due to many companies’ limited IT resources and expressed interest in focusing those IT resources elsewhere. QAD On Demand addresses these concerns by minimizing the underlying infrastructure work and technical efforts associated with a deployment, while providing its customers 24 x 7 global support. “We’re extremely pleased by the outlook expressed in the Aberdeen Analyst Insight report,” stated Gordon Fleming, chief marketing officer at QAD. “It validates the value that QAD On Demand provides our customers and corroborates our own market adoption expectations. In fact, we expect significant adoption in the coming year among customers planning global expansion and smaller companies requiring a robust, yet affordable ERP option.” To view a copy of the entire Aberdeen Report, please visit Aberdeen On Demand Report.
Welcome New Members Dynacast Ltd. – Peterborough, ON CANADA
Kobe Aluminum Automotive – Bowling Green, KY
Superior Industries – Van Nuys, CA
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