Accrotool Invests in Project Management Solution to Improve Process Flow
Customers now have real-time access to order status, delivery schedules, & more
September 30, 2011
New Kensington, PA — Under the leadership of President and COO Buck Helfferich, Accrotool, a full-service contract manufacturer of custom-engineered metal products used in a wide range of applications, has implemented a technology-based system to ensure that managers and supervisors can access the status of every order, any time of day or night. The system also enables customers to track their orders from production through shipping by using a smartphone app or an icon on their desks. This latest modification enhances the company's flexibility and responsiveness, which has led to a 70% improvement in on-time delivery, a 50% reduction in work-in-process value and a 50% reduction in quoting time. It also builds upon other changes that Accrotool has implemented over the past year, including the ability to silk-screen images on products, affix decals to finished metal casings and integrate the latest digital and video technologies with production activities.
“As a result of Buck's initiative, anyone inside or outside of the company who needs to see any aspect of an order, including the quote, letter of agreement, scheduling, materials management, labor costs, shipping, invoicing and final costs may do so at any time,” says Bill Phillips, Sr., Accrotool's Chairman and CEO. “The key benefits of this new system are less anxiety in customer relationships through better communication and more precise estimates of project status and shipment dates.”
Besides providing significant advantages to Accrotool's operating efficiency, Mr. Phillips believes that the system offers the intangible benefit of strengthening a sense of teamwork throughout the company. “The ability to clearly see who's doing what, and where your responsibilities fit in the big picture, are making people feel more accountable to each other than ever before. Getting a real-time snapshot of your work's importance is a powerful motivator for achieving and maintaining levels of excellence which keep customers loyal and co-workers happy.”
In developing and implementing the system, Mr. Helfferich has applied more than 30 years of experience in the field of contract manufacturing. It is part of his ongoing efforts to transform Accrotool from a typical machine shop to a strategic partner of customers and suppliers.
About Accrotool
Accrotool, Inc. is a full-service contract manufacturer of engineered metal products used in defense, industrial, instrumentation, medical & safety equipment and transportation applications. The company's design and production capabilities allow Accrotool, an ISO 9001:2008-certified company, to offer CNC machining, custom metal fabrication, finishing, full assembly, laser processing, metal stamping, powder coat painting, silk screening & decal application, precision tool & die components, and specialized welding for producing brackets, bus bars, chassis, enclosures, fixtures, panels, stamping dies, stampings and sub-assemblies. Accrotool is located in New Kensington, PA, near Pittsburgh, and has been in business since 1972.
For more information, contact Buck Helfferich at 724-339-3560, e-mail bhelfferich@accrotool.com
