Although no single factory has yet realised the benefits of the entire Bizmantools Productivity labour productivity management solution, all its individual modules are in use and proved, with inertia calculations due to be added to the program later this year, says manufacturing management software developer Bizmantools.
Bizmantools product developer John White says the software is the first full manufacturing package to be customised for the aluminium and glass industry and includes practical productivity management. Customisation includes mill run optimisation for large projects where custom aluminium stock lengths are calculated for minimum waste. The product also has a claims management system to allow easy control of incremental invoicing on large projects.
“In terms of labour productivity, companies are hesitant to use this software as they are unsure whether it is a solution worth having,” says White, who believes this uncertainty stems from companies not expecting to receive practical help in this area of manufacturing.
Productivity is the first complete manufacturing management system that addresses the practical challenges in the aluminium and glass industries, says White.
“The software takes the product from the quoting stage through manufacturing to delivery and the production of monthly claims,” he explains, noting that, owing to his 25 years of experience in manufacturing and his more recent involvement in the aluminium industry, the software was developed to address the challenges of the industry.
Launched in 2009, Productivity is suitable for all types of manufacturing; therefore, there are no restrictions on its use with regard to suppliers and any building system or combination of systems may be used.
The modular software package includes a quoting system, a project management system, a production management system and a raw materials control system.
The quoting system features an interactive two-dimensional drawing interface compliant with South African Glass and Glazing Association regulations. The user can also create formulae-driven quotations (much like in a spread-sheet) or create entirely manual line items such as for preliminary costs and general costs, explains White. The program also has user configurable guidelines for many aspects of product design such as sash dimensions, leaf size and friction stays.
The project management system integrates with the quoting system and enables the user to store and retrieve any document that is relevant to a project. Further, the user can keep track of a purchases summary regarding raw materials delivered and overdue deliveries.
White adds that production schedule and work in progress analyses enable the user to view the progress of each project item and track the costs using cost analysis.
The production management system constructs worker or team reports, which are used to manage a manufacturer’s objectives. Production rates stated in quota- tions can also be compared with those that are achieved, as the system produces summary reports to determine whether a project is on schedule.
The raw materials management system handles complex raw materials inventories and, as it can integrate with the most popular accounting software facilitates, it facilitates tight control of these materials, says White.
“Intelligent goods-issuing tech- nology keeps track of what materials have already been issued and helps the user prevent the unauthorised reissuing of materials,” he explains.
Bizmantools provides automated raw materials purchasing linked to the quoting system, states White, noting that distributor of window and door hardware Hinges & Hardware is one company that has implemented this feature internally and is soon to make the software available to its clients by agreement with Bizmantools.
The company has bought the rights to distribute a “Lite” version of the quoting module to assist in the selling of its aluminium products. White expects the launch of the quoting module by Hinges & Hardware, this year, will give the software product the publicity it deserves, as many of Hinges & Hardware’s clients are expected to switch to Bizmantools.