Superior Metal Products, Inc. ERP Cases Study

The Challenge

Superior Metal Products operated with an ERP system that severely limited operational visibility and data-driven decision-making. The lack of real-time production tracking and weak forecasting made it difficult to monitor work in progress, anticipate bottlenecks or provide accurate schedules. As Controller Bethany DiMaggio put it, "Our previous ERP system had almost no visibility of data. We could build routers and jobs, but we couldn’t see any work in progress. We couldn’t do any forecasting and the scheduling was weak." Manual processes for work order tracking and inventory management resulted in delays, inefficiencies and challenges in meeting customer demands for quality and delivery timelines.

The Solution

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive and integrated solution, Superior Metal Products selected Global Shop Solutions ERP to transform their manufacturing operations. The decision was driven by the software's robust capabilities in production tracking, inventory management and advanced planning. With modules tailored for shop floor control and mobile technology, the company was able to automate material movement and provide real-time data access to operators. Manufacturing Engineer Andrew Bowman noted, "With GS Mobile, they can clock into a job and stay at their stations while our material handler handles the staging and movement of materials. It’s faster and more efficient and with the mobile scanners and tablets, we can scan and print labels anywhere in the plant." The implementation enabled all departments to benefit from integrated workflows, accurate forecasting and efficient scheduling.

The Results

After adopting Global Shop Solutions ERP, Superior Metal Products realized measurable operational improvements across their business. The company gained real-time visibility into production, proactively addressed bottlenecks and improved inventory accuracy. As Bethany DiMaggio shared, "APS allows us to anticipate and react to situations before they happen. In the past, we always found ourselves in the midst of the storm before we knew it. Now we can see bottlenecks coming and take action ahead of time." Over ten years, these capabilities contributed to a 40% sales increase and a 35% reduction in inventory. The ability to deliver just-in-time, produce accurate quotes and meet customer requirements further strengthened their competitive position. "We’re more profitable because we know our true costs and we do a better job of meeting customer requirements when they want them," DiMaggio added.