Manufacturing Database Solutions For Managers

Welcome To Ampersand Design

Articles

A Continuous Improvement Idea: Update Your Costing and Quoting Process
Published in "Plastics Business", Spring 2008 issue

Problem Follow-Up Sheets: A Toyota Production System Tool
Published in "Plastics Business", Summer 2007 issue

Productivity Improvement Software

All Ampersand Design programs were developed by managers with the goal of being simple-to-use time-saving tools for manufacturing.

ReSolve-It™ not only gives you a super efficient way to track and resolve issues, it can lead to dramatic improvements in your processes by helping identify recurring problem make sure the root causes are eliminated.

PlasQuote™ gives you a powerful tool to streamline your entire costing and quoting process, eliminating costly time spent re-entering data for formulae and providing an automated quote follow-up system.

ReSolve-It™ is the complete problem tracking and resolution system for manufacturers. Based on Toyota practices, this system provides and orderly method of:

registering problems
finding root causes
assigning corrective actions
tracking results

A drawing or picture can be inserted to help understand a problem and a standard automotive industry 5-Why Worksheet is available for problem solving. Numerous reports are available to allow the user to track open and closed issues, open and closed corrective actions, and generate a Corrective Action Report, if needed, for the customer. For more information click HERE.

PlasQuote™ is the most complete and easiest-to-use program available for costing and quoting manufactured parts and assemblies. This flexible program allows the user to develop costing for:

materials
operations
labor
packaging
freight
tooling

Standard costs can be saved for future use eliminating the search for information. Complicated calculations are eliminated reducing errors and saving valuable management time and money. For additional information on PlasQuote™ click HERE.

Custom Database Development

We also develop custom database solutions for manufacturing companies using FileMaker 10 Pro. FileMaker is an extremely flexible development platform which allows the development of complex solutions and can interface with other database platforms as well as web-based solutions.

Office Picture Our philosophy is that software should work the way the client works, not the way that's most convenient for the programmer. When developing a custom solution, we spend the time required up front to understand the client's needs, methodology and company culture before starting to design a solution.

When deciding whether to comission a custom solution or purchase an out-of-the-box solution be sure to consider:

How flexible is your company in regards to workflow and systems? Out-of-the-box solutions will require your company to adapt to how the software works and/or develop "work-arounds". A custom solution can be built to work with your current methods.

What will the reports look like and what will be reported? Out-of-the box solutions will come with a predetermined set of reports that are seldom exactly what the user wants or needs. As a result, the user must purchase additional reporting software and invest in the time and money to develop the reports needed. A custom solution can be built with exactly the reports needed.

What is the true cost for the solution? Remember to include the cost of implementation, training, additional report software and report development. Also consider the cost to your company culture if extensive changes are required to adapt systems and methods to the new software.

You may very well find a custom solution is the better choice in the long run. We can help you make this decision and develop your solution, if it makes sense.

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Site Updated 1/25/2010

ReSolve-It™ and PlasQuote™ are Trademarks of Ampersand Design, Grand Island, NE.
FileMaker® is a registered trademark of FileMaker, Inc.

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