Assembly in Action: Software Organizes Production, Inventory
Founded in 1972, Lou-Rich Inc. (Albert Lea, MN) manufactures complete products and equipment, mechanical and electromechanical subassemblies, engineered mechanical components and weldments, and aluminum extrusions for a variety of OEMs. The company also manufactures its own Panels PlusR line of equipment used in the construction of prefabricated wall panels. In the process, the company operates in multiple manufacturing modes, including make-to-order, make-to-inventory and ship-to-order. Not surprisingly, given the variety of it operations, tracking revenue and inventory is a perennial challenge.
"We didn't have detailed cost information under our old system," says Lou-Rich CFO, Steve Tufte, describing the company's former manufacturing software system. "A lot of the challenge revolved around inventory transactions. We used to make one big entry at the end of the month, but needed to get better information regarding those transactions so we can make process improvements."