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Realtrac Success Stories: Alliance Broach & Tool
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
Applicable Industries
- Aerospace
- Automotive
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Process Control & Optimization
- Inventory Management
- Predictive Maintenance
Services
- System Integration
- Training
The Challenge
Running a small to medium-sized machine shop business presents many challenges, including managing hundreds of customers while maintaining a tight, just-in-time operation. Alliance Broach & Tool, a company with over 35 years of experience, faced the challenge of growing their business in a tough economic climate. They needed to manage their operations efficiently to support their growth and maintain profitability. The company required a tool that could provide up-to-date information for quoting, costing, and managing projects as they moved through the operation. Additionally, they needed a solution that could help them manage their costs and improve their job planning, cost analysis, and floor operations.
About The Customer
Alliance Broach & Tool, part of J&L Turning, is a small to medium-sized machine shop business located in East China, Michigan. The company has been in operation for over 35 years and is run by one of the founders, Helen Johnson, along with her son Mike Johnson. Alliance Broach & Tool specializes in highly customized broach manufacturing and reworking for a wide range of industries, including agriculture, aerospace, automotive, medical, marine, and heavy equipment. They have continuously expanded their operations to include highly specialized broaches of all types and specifications, including custom spirex broaches and splines up to 84 inches. The company operates a tight, just-in-time operation and has built an international customer base, working with hundreds of customers both domestically and internationally.
The Solution
Alliance Broach & Tool leveraged ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software from REALTRAC to manage their growth and costs. The ERP software provided up-to-date information for quoting, costing, and managing projects as they moved through the operation. This allowed the company to effectively manage their operations and achieve significant cost savings. The software improved job planning, cost analysis, and floor operations, resulting in a quick return on investment. The saved history in the system helped develop quotes more quickly and accurately, and provided instant visibility to the status of any item on the shop floor. The ERP software also reduced the need for additional administrative staff, allowing the company to operate with a leaner team. Additionally, the software helped prepare for audits and certifications by providing the necessary documentation with a few simple keystrokes.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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