Miba Industrial Bearings US (Houston), LLC ERP Case Study

The Challenge

Miba specializes in the repair and manufacture of close tolerance bearings and seals for turbomachinery, servicing critical industries that demand absolute precision and reliability. The company operates in a high-mix, low-volume environment with frequent rush orders and slim margins, making it essential to manage both direct and indirect costs while maintaining rapid, failproof delivery and uncompromising quality. Traditional ERP systems often proved too complex for widespread shop floor adoption, leading to challenges with real-time visibility, job tracking and effective scheduling.

The Solution

Recognizing the limitations of existing ERP solutions, Miba sought a system that could seamlessly integrate with their operations, provide actionable shop floor data and be easily adopted by all employees. After evaluating alternatives, Miba selected Global Shop Solutions ERP software for its intuitive interface, robust features and strong industry reputation. Larry Fisher, Vice President at Miba, shared, “It’s a real robust system. For a business our size, it has a lot that we can grow into. Most importantly, it helps us in terms of controlling costs. Basically everything we do on the production side of the business - from the time the order comes into the door to the time we finish it and send it out the door - follows Global Shop Solutions ERP software.” With Global Shop Solutions, Miba rapidly onboarded staff, minimized errors and achieved end-to-end visibility across production. Fisher noted, “It’s a real user-friendly system for all of our people out on the shop floor. We’ve been using it so long now that it doesn’t even take the new guys coming in very long at all to learn the system. In fact, I don’t see very many mistakes in their learning curve.” The partnership extended beyond software, with Fisher highlighting, “The support we’ve gotten out of Global Shop Solutions is very simple for me to express: they’ve got more support dedicated to us than we’ve got time or need to use. That’s just what it boils down to, and we know that when we do need them they’re ready to help.”

The Results

Since adopting Global Shop Solutions ERP software in 2000, Miba has realized substantial operational gains. Enhanced shop floor visibility and real-time job tracking have enabled accurate scheduling and reduced bottlenecks. The system’s intuitive design facilitated rapid training for new employees, minimized errors and fostered a culture of continuous improvement. Cost control has become more precise, contributing to healthier margins despite the challenges of custom manufacturing. Ongoing support and regular software advancements ensure that Miba remains agile and responsive, maintaining its reputation for quality and rapid, reliable service in demanding markets.