Wright Metal Products Crates ERP Case Study

The Challenge

WMP Crates relied on disconnected spreadsheets and databases to manage production. This fragmented approach created major hurdles in scheduling jobs, tracking costs and analyzing profitability. Without an integrated system, inventory management was cumbersome and error-prone and the finance team struggled to maintain accurate oversight. The absence of real-time data and standardized workflows limited efficiency and hampered the company's ability to scale operations effectively.

The Solution

Seeking to address these operational pain points, WMP Crates evaluated ERP solutions that could unify their business processes and enable advanced process automation. Global Shop Solutions ERP was selected for its comprehensive manufacturing management capabilities and flexible integration options. The software enabled WMP Crates to consolidate inventory, shop floor and financial data into a single platform. As Chad Cole, Head of Logistics at the Nebraska facility, shared: “Global Shop Solutions has made a huge difference for us in inventory management. It’s given us the ability to do cycle counts, which we couldn’t do before. We use it to set up move tickets, which allow us to move products through shop faster and more accurately. And we use it to create bin locations so that we can track parts in inventory, locate them efficiently and get them ready for shipments.” Global Shop Solutions also provided tools for automated order entry and custom workflow automation, further increasing operational agility. David Stevenson, Comptroller, highlighted the impact: “Global Shop Solutions helped us pull everything together and get the proper checks and balances in place. It also provides the financial reporting we need to make sure everything is working right. It’s a world of difference with Global Shop Solutions!”

The Results

With Global Shop Solutions ERP, WMP Crates achieved measurable improvements across its operations. The custom GAB program for order import and creation saved 40 to 50 labor hours per week - the work of a full-time employee - freeing up staff to focus on higher-value tasks. Automated inventory management enabled accurate cycle counts and real-time tracking, supporting efficient product movement across two production facilities. As Chad Cole noted, “The custom GAB program we use to import and create firm and planned orders is currently saving us 40 to 50 hours of labor per week, which basically eliminates the full-time labor costs of one person.” Financial visibility and reporting were significantly enhanced, with David Stevenson stating, “Out of the box, Global Shop Solutions gives us a very good picture of our costs and profitability. It keeps us organized and enables us to do our jobs more efficiently. But I really like the flexibility of being able to run reports in various orders and formats to suit our needs.” WMP Crates now benefits from accurate data, automated workflows and scalable operations, positioning the company for continued growth and innovation in the manufacturing sector.