2017 Top Shops Winner and Champion of Innovation

• Analytics & Modeling - Process Analytics
• Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)

• Automotive

• Discrete Manufacturing

• Inventory Management
• Manufacturing System Automation

• Software Design & Engineering Services
• System Integration

XL Machine, a high-volume manufacturing shop serving several industries, was facing issues with inventory management. The company was producing costly, high-end parts, making inventory critical for eliminating waste and maintaining profitability. However, there was no consistent method of tracking inventory, either for raw materials or finished parts. This lack of inventory tracking could potentially lead to a loss of about a million dollars a month in product. Additionally, XL Machine management wanted to implement a system that could track all of their capital, including human and financial. They were looking for a system that could integrate complete scheduling, costing (for both materials and labor), and finance.

XL Machine is a high-volume manufacturing shop that serves several different industries, most notably the automotive industry, heavy-duty manufacturers, and industrial. The company is known for its commitment to innovation and continual process evaluation and improvement. In 2017, XL Machine was named Modern Machine Shop’s Top Shop in the Machining Technology category. This recognition was largely attributed to the shop’s investment in the best people and equipment available, allowing them to stay at the forefront of shop technology. This commitment to excellence extends to their software choices, with the company implementing the JobBOSS ERP system to streamline their operations and improve efficiency.

XL Machine decided to adopt JobBOSS, an ERP system that would serve as a full solution to their inventory-tracking needs. After implementing JobBOSS, XL Machine began to see immediate improvements in efficiency and process streamlining, and perhaps most importantly, visibility into every aspect of shop operations. They now have a full-time scheduler who works in JobBOSS on a daily basis, doing much more than just job scheduling. This includes data collection from employees on machine efficiencies, improvements on work center processes, and plans on scheduling moving forward. Additionally, XL Machine added KnowledgeSync to their JobBOSS software foundation. This allowed them to monitor shop floor activity and massively increase efficiencies with everything from streamlining shop processes to pinpointing opportunities for ongoing training. Furthermore, XL Machine invested in an on-site Business Process Assessment (BPA) in 2017. This allowed them to document every shop process, remove unnecessary steps, and automate many processes through KnowledgeSync.

• XL Machine began to see immediate improvements in efficiency and process streamlining after implementing JobBOSS.
• The company gained visibility into every aspect of shop operations, allowing them to better understand labor and machine capacity.
• KnowledgeSync automation allowed XL Machine to streamline shop processes and pinpoint opportunities for ongoing training.

• Potential prevention of a loss of about a million dollars a month in product due to improved inventory tracking.
• Significant time and money savings due to process automation and streamlining.