Brunswick Steel ERP Case Study

The Challenge

Brunswick Steel, serving a diverse manufacturing and construction clientele across Western Canada, faced significant operational obstacles. Despite investing in modern production equipment and running 24/7, the company relied heavily on manual workflows and a legacy system designed for service centers rather than manufacturing. This system lacked the automation and flexibility needed to efficiently handle both custom one-offs and scheduled production, resulting in slow production cycles, fragmented data and limited ability to manage inventory exposure to market volatility.

The Solution

Seeking to modernize operations, Brunswick Steel evaluated multiple ERP solutions, prioritizing automation, data integration and the ability to support both production processing and stock sales. As Adam Plouffe, General Manager, noted, "The ERP systems we looked all had the automation and data integration. But most of them had major weaknesses when it came to managing both production processing and stock sales. Those two business lines run very differently, and Global Shop Solutions was one of few that said, 'Yes, we can do that.'" Global Shop Solutions ERP was selected for its flexibility and comprehensive manufacturing capabilities. Implementation was completed in just one month, and the system provided the necessary adaptability, as Plouffe highlighted: "We didn’t want an ERP system that would force us to do things a certain way." With the ERP in place, Brunswick Steel began automating manual processes, integrating production and finance data and enhancing overall data accessibility.

The Results

The impact of Global Shop Solutions ERP was immediate and measurable. Brunswick Steel reduced its delivery times from 1-2 days to same-day, enabling rapid response to customer needs. The company achieved full integration of financials and shop floor data, allowing for real-time decision-making and operational transparency. As the CFO shared, "Thank you for pushing this change. I can now run all financials through our ERP because the data is all tied together." Inventory exposure was reduced, and purchasing turns increased, supporting better risk management in volatile steel markets. The implementation process was efficient, with the system going live in just one month. Brunswick Steel now operates 24/7 with improved shop floor and back office efficiency, accurate delivery date commitments and a fully integrated, automated manufacturing environment.