Established in 1979, Pacer Group (Sarasota, Fla.), is a leading wire and electrical cable manufacturer that offers custom electrical products, value-added solutions and parts distribution. The Pacer group of companies has expanded beyond its traditional marine industry focus at its 42,000 square-foot manufacturing, assembly and warehouse complex in Sarasota. Our array of capabilities begins with wire and cable manufacturing and progresses with customer focused solutions such as battery cable assembly, wire harness assembly, instrument and dash panel design, and complete electrical system integration
Pacer has integrated three major industrial functions including electrical wire and cable manufacturing, electrical system design and manufacturing, and electrical components distribution. The integration of wire and cable manufacturing, engineering and distribution provides us with great flexibility to address the concerns of individuals and smaller companies as well as large volume users.
Today, Pacer provides these capabilities to a wide range of manufacturers who require UL/CSA approved wire, such as makers of batteries, forklifts and golf carts, industrial equipment, alternative power, appliances and data storage. We also have a wide range of products that serve marine, automotive, truck, RV and off-road vehicles.
From a manufacturing perspective, the company manufactures products in two basic modes, plus undertaking a distribution function. In one part of the business, we run small lot, complex jobs that entail many parts and changeovers. Another part of the business produces low complexity, higher-volume products such as wire and cable. From an ERP standpoint, think of this as a lot-controlled product in which the system processes a new work order which then becomes finished goods. The final part of the business buys products for resale in a classic distribution scenario.
Defining and Selecting a New ERP
Our former ERP system had become dated, being too cumbersome and difficult to use while not providing us with the depth of manufacturing that we needed. At the same time, we were at the size of a company in which it is inefficient to host an on-premise system but that needs the functionality and mobility which the Cloud provides. We also wanted an ERP that would leverage our Salesforce.com system.
Working in concert with Pacer’s selection committee, we reviewed reports from Gartner and others on ERP systems that would cover the wide range of businesses that Pacer handles.
Input from our sales and marketing people are important to us and since they were already using Salesforce, we wanted to be sure to complement that effort with our manufacturing ERP. For example, we use OzLINK, which works with the most robust shipping interfaces available for the three most popular carriers: UPS WorldShip, USPS Endicia and FedEx Ship Manager.
Although OzLink is not a Salesforce specific application, the open flexibility of the Salesforce.com platform allowed it to seamlessly integrate with Rootstock and dramatically improve our performance. So, to emphasize, we needed a flexible platform that would operate with our other Salesforce tools and most of the suites we reviewed were too limited.
In our search, it quickly became evident to the team and myself that Cloud-based ERP is fast becoming a real alternative to traditional on-premise ERP systems. As the availability of cloud-based software has exploded, the complicated system of interdependent components that work together to enable cloud services has come to be called the “cloud ecosystem.” Without question, one of the most popular of these cloud platforms is Salesforce, and Pacer was already capitalizing on it.
We also faced the same problem so many manufacturers have in searching for a new ERP: having to maintain in-house servers would just be too prohibitive. With a Cloud ERP implementation, Pacer would eliminate many of the hidden costs of implementing an On-Premise solution including the acquisition of hardware, operating system software, database management software and other infrastructure products. Not only do these items carry significant costs but they come with built-in delays affecting the project, our team understood. When all was said and done, we learned, the largest cost savings may be the ability to start and complete the entire implementation project without having to make that large up-front investment in perpetual license and maintenance fees that are characteristic of On-Premise solutions. We are not alone in understanding this.
In a recent study completed by Gartner (Survey Analysis: Adoption of Cloud ERP, 2013 Through 2023), CIOs and application leaders were advised to consider Cloud ERP as a replacement for old ERP systems that are either no longer supported or are still running on old platforms such as mainframe computers. A total of 47 percent of participants in the survey (companies from North America, EMEA, APAC and Latin America that range in size from $10M to $10B) said that they planned to move their core ERP systems to the cloud within five years.
We had one other priority. Other than those that had a multi-million cost, we wanted a platform that could be customized. The Cloud provided us with this option as well.
Anyone who has undertaken an ERP implementation knows that there will be customization/personalization required to enhance the usability or functionality of the ERP software. As a result, there will be programming costs borne by either the software vendor or the customer. And, until the customization is complete, the customer is going to incur some delay in achieving improved productivity and efficiency. However, by having all software on the Salesforce.com platform, many of the problems in customization could be avoided.
Eva Wright, Pacer Group’s internal IT administrator, who is also a certified Salesforce Administrator, notes that by leveraging Salesforce’s Force.com, the new ERP software could offer significant advantages for Wright’s department to easily provide its own customizations to ERP Cloud software written natively on the public cloud platform. Recognizing that there is a significant difference, and benefit, to the open systems on a public cloud, Wright could make informed decisions on which Cloud ERP solution would provide a quicker payback and higher return on investment, especially when considering that those latent customization projects can be controlled by her rather than the software provider.
As a result of our research, our team selected Rootstock for our new manufacturing/distribution Cloud ERP running on the salesforce.com platform..
We appreciated how they [Rootstock] looked at our business processes and came up with solutions.
Installing the New Cloud ERP
With three different aspects to their business, Wright and I determined that the quickest payback would be to install the new ERP on the lower complexity – higher volume manufacturing side.
Yes, there were some gaps and issues discovered as we went along, but they seemed to be more of a data situation than a process problem. Rootstock set up the manufacturing part and it was good. One reason we selected Rootstock is that the ERP can really handle complex manufacturing and for the selected first installation, we needed something a little lighter. For instance, the basic software has a lot in order entry and we needed something more like a distributor uses for this side of the business rather than what we would need for the complex manufacturing side. Working with the Rootstock team made that happen..
“One of the things we learned in this process is the importance of the vendor team,” emphasizes Wright. “We wanted a group that was willing and eager to help us. We appreciated how they looked at our business processes and came up with solutions.”
We completed this installation December 1, 2014, after working on it since February.
Important ERP Modules for Pacer
For us, the MRP and Purchasing modules have proven to be very important.
“MRP keeps track of what we need,” says Wright. “It’s an excellent engine and lets us quickly find out everything on order and determine what we have.”
MRP uses information from Sales Order Management to drive the top level demands. Forecast demands, not only end items but any item, can be entered as well. A forecast demand for an item denotes the start period date and the end period date and the quantity forecasted for that period. MRP performs the traditional “netting” and plans to the greater of the Sales Order Demand and Forecast demand (by period).
The MRP Engine always uses the “effective” Bill of Material in its plan. It accomplishes this by reviewing the scheduled pick dates of the planned work order supplies or planned subcontract requisition supplies and using that date to extract the components that are “effective” and “implemented” as of that date in the generation of the work order and subcontract requisition demands.
Purchase Order Management provides for the entry and tracking of purchase orders for direct and indirect materials and services. This is supported throughout the entire purchasing process, from generation of the requisition through receiving of materials or approval of service provided including accounts payable integration. The module also maintains all vendor information and reporting required by buying organizations to make better-informed purchasing decisions
Our staff is used to a browser approach and once they have learned where and what things are, they like the ERP because they understand it.”
“BOM Maintenance is a beautiful thing,” highlights Wright. “We can copy, clone and maintain our BOMs much more efficiently than we could before.”
Manufacturing or subcontract assemblies are identified within Bill of Material Maintenance. Each component contains a separate record, and standard information associating the component to the assembly can be kept on the Bill of Material. Required information such as the quantity per assembly and the add and delete effectively data is maintained on each component link. Required Add and Delete Effectively information includes status and date with optional information including revision and engineering change order. Additional capabilities include a scrap factor, “issue to” work centers on the Shop Floor and lead time offset for planning purposes. Bills of Material are also used in a Standard Cost Rollup to compute the material cost and the subcontract material cost of the purchased (or subcontract purchased) item.
“It’s helpful that the software is browser-oriented,” adds Wright. “Our staff is used to a browser approach and once they have learned where and what things are, they like the ERP because they understand it.”
Business Results Already Showing Up
With the system in for only six months, it’s still too early to quantitatively say what our results have been or will be but there are several things that we’ve already discovered. We’ve had a dramatic improvement in our inventory management which lets us serve our customers with dependable, on-time deliveries.
“Our people are enjoying working with the system,” adds Wright. “It is so highly customizable. As our people suggest new ideas – voila – we in IT are able to provide them.”
Our old system had a significantly large amount of “tacked” on, non-native solutions to function sufficiently. They were inefficient and required maintenance. Today, with our Rootstock system, this goes away. Versus the old on-premise system, we can now easily work with so many other solutions, as Rootstock on Salesforce.com takes care of this. Bottom line, today we are able to do more with fewer resources.
About Pacer
Your Business Partner for Complete Wire, Cable and Electrical Products Solutions
Established in 1979, Pacer has built its reputation as an industry leader one customer at a time through excellence in engineering, a knowledgeable sales force, and an unwavering commitment to customer service.
Pacer has integrated three major industrial functions including electrical wire and cable manufacturing, electrical panel design and manufacturing, wiring harness and battery cable assembly, and electrical components distribution. The Pacer group of companies has expanded beyond its traditional marine industry focus at its 42,000 square-foot manufacturing, assembly, and warehouse complex in Sarasota, Florida.
The integration of wire & cable manufacturing, engineering and distribution allows Pacer great flexibility to address the concerns of individuals and smaller companies as well as large volume users.
Today, Pacer provides these proven capabilities to a wide range of manufacturers who require UL/CSA approved wire; such as makers of batteries, fork lifts and golf carts, industrial equipment, alternative power, appliances, data storage. We also have a wide range of products that serve automotive, performance racing, truck, RV, and offroad vehicles.
Choose Pacer for quick, accurate, and cost competitive wire, cable, and electrical parts.
To learn more about the Pacer Group, please visit www.pacergroup.net.
Architectural Fabrication: The Power of Real-Time ERP Reporting & Data Visibility
Architectural Fabrication is an established shade solutions company located in Fort Worth, Texas. It has been around for more than two decades, providing custom solutions for canopies, sunshades, walkways, and several other architectural elements that enhance the look of buildings. The company has made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies for three years running. It partners with general contractors, architects, and engineers to provide manufacturing, design and installation services. In fact, it works with some of the largest architectural firms, general contractors, and retailers in the U.S. If a customer can conceive it, Architectural Fabrication can deliver it, turning a drawing or idea into a custom solution.
BACA Systems, Inc.: Rootstock Cloud ERP is the De Facto Choice for Long Term Success on Salesforce
BACA Systems Inc., based in Orion Township, Michigan, is known for Innovative Fabrication Solutions for Industrial Stone Automation. BACA’s dedicated team of experts provide industrial-sized solutions in Robotic Automation, System Integration, WaterJet Technology and Countertop Fabrication. BACA Systems, an industry front runner, gives seminars in how to set up a shop with the right templating, sawing, edge finishing and water treatment equipment to increase profits and to reduce labor costs.
Boston Dynamics Achieves Fundamental Business Transformations with Rootstock Cloud ERP & Salesforce
Boston Dynamics is an American engineering and robotics design company founded in 1992 out of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology.) Once owned by Google, they are still located in Massachusetts. Boston Dynamics offers a highly advanced robotic line; their engineers design robotics nimble enough to climb stairs, master a multitude of warehouse tasks, and traverse remote areas and terrain using a 360-degree view.
Equipter shows 30% growth year over year since implementing Rootstock
Equipter/New Heights LLC (Paradise, PA) is an American-owned, family-run business that designs and manufactures state of the art equipment to help businesses in construction, general contracting, residential roofing, commercial roofing and more improve debris removal and in turn improve efficiency. Their flagship product is the Equipter RB4000 (The Roof Buggy), a drive-able, raise-able, tow-able and dump-able construction and roofing vehicle that can fit into tight areas, streamlines the removal of roofing debris and makes jobsite cleanup faster and easier.
Northeast Lantern: From Spreadsheets to Cloud ERP
Northeast Lantern exists to provide high quality solid brass and copper lighting fixtures through highly skilled and dedicated employees, excellent customer service and proficient manufacturing processes. Northeast Lantern offers a lifetime guarantee and unique ability to customize any fixtures to ensure confidence and satisfaction with customers. Northeast Lantern continually innovates and improves American made lighting fixtures to maintain a competitive edge in the industry and keep up with market demands. Over 20% of the company’s lanterns are custom. Northeast Lantern sells their finely crafted products through a network of US and Canadian authorized dealers.
OSI – A Modern Foundation for High Quality Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Osoth Inter Laboratories Co., Ltd. (OSI), headquartered in Thailand, is a high-quality manufacturer of pharmaceutical and dietary supplements and a subsidiary of the SAHA group, a multi-business/cosmetics and consumer product manufacturer.
When Planning for Its New Manufacturing ERP, Pacer Group Planned for Success
Established in 1979, Pacer Group (Sarasota, Fla.), is a leading wire and electrical cable manufacturer that offers custom electrical products, value-added solutions and parts distribution. The Pacer group of companies has expanded beyond its traditional marine industry focus at its 42,000 square-foot manufacturing, assembly and warehouse complex in Sarasota. Our array of capabilities begins with wire and cable manufacturing and progresses with customer focused solutions such as battery cable assembly, wire harness assembly, instrument and dash panel design, and complete electrical system integration.
Perpetua Advisors: Next Gen ERP Platform Advice for the Next Generation of your Business
Perpetua Advisors helps manufacturers digitally transform their business eco-systems through the effective expansion of reliable data. Core to their success is helping clients pivot away from traditional technology solutions that deliver siloed and fragmented data and move towards achieving long-term digital transformation success using unified data. Hear from Chief Digital Officer & Co-Founding Partner, Mike Wind, to learn how Perpetua advises their customers on the selection of a proven cloud platform with Salesforce and Rootstock to deliver one common data model that empowers customers and suppliers with timely, high-quality data.
Pioneer’s CRM and ERP now roll smoother on one cloud platform
Pioneer Motor Bearing provides original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end users with first-class bearing engineering, manufacturing and repair expertise. Its mission is to help them design, build, maintain and upgrade large rotating equipment to operate more efficiently and reliably over an extended life.
Products include turbine and generator bearings operating in nuclear power stations, very large vertical guide and thrust bearing assemblies operating in some of the largest hydroelectric plants in North America, patented designs for small tilting pad radial bearings for high speed lightly loaded rotating machinery, and new and repaired bearings for the U.S. Navy.
Pro-Tech Cleans Up Software System with Cloud ERP
Pro-Tech Manufacturing and Distribution, Inc. (Rochester, NY) revolutionized the snow and ice management industry when they launched the Rubber Edge Sno Pusher in 1994, which has helped thousands of snow and ice companies across North America move more snow faster, thereby increasing efficiency and profitability. Since then, they have never stopped working to craft the perfect containment plow, striving to increase the already extreme durability and functionality of their product line.
SPR Therapeutics Revolutionizes Customer Excellence with Next-Gen Cloud Platform
SPR Therapeutics is committed to improving the lives of millions of pain sufferers with its peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) platform technology poised to be the standard of care and ultimately, the treatment of choice for pain management.
Led by a world-class team of scientists, physicians, and business professionals with a track record of commercializing innovative neurostimulation products, SPR’s PNS therapy for acute and chronic pain management provides a non-narcotic, reversible, safe, effective and more affordable alternative to addictive opioid medications and invasive surgeries.
Led by a world-class team of scientists, physicians, and business professionals with a track record of commercializing innovative neurostimulation products, SPR’s PNS therapy for acute and chronic pain management provides a non-narcotic, reversible, safe, effective and more affordable alternative to addictive opioid medications and invasive surgeries.
Summit Imaging - Removing Obstacles to Growth with Rootstock and Salesforce
Summit Imaging (Woodinville, WA) is a technology-focused ultrasound medical equipment support company. It offers end-to-end customer support, including hands-on training courses, fast repairs, high quality parts replacement, free 24/7 technical support, the longest warranty on parts and services in the industry and the ability to diagnose most problems over the phone in under 7 minutes. Summit Imaging constantly strives to improve the customer experience and because of their outstanding reputation, has grown by over 60% year over year to become the very best in their industry. The company recently received ISO 13485:2003 and ISO 9001:2008 certifications from The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) for its repair and support services of ultrasound medical equipment.
Swift Straw - Using Native Cloud ERP Technology to Scale Rapid Business Growth
Swift Straw has earned its reputation as “the ground cover specialists” in the American Southeast. With a focus on pine straw and mulch products, the largest beautification components for landscaping nationwide, Swift Straw has created a method to package pine straw in compact easy-to-handle bales that allow for new market expansion across the country.
Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Swift Straw is the largest pine straw distributor in America. They ship and install pine straw and mulch products to a diverse client list of landscapers, private and commercial real estate projects, hotels, homeowner associations, schools, parks, and more.
Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Swift Straw is the largest pine straw distributor in America. They ship and install pine straw and mulch products to a diverse client list of landscapers, private and commercial real estate projects, hotels, homeowner associations, schools, parks, and more.
Supporting Explosive Growth with Rootstock Cloud ERP
Tilray, Inc. is a leading global cannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company with operations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Latin America that is changing people’s lives for the better – one person at a time – by inspiring and empowering the worldwide community to live their very best life by providing them with products that meet the needs of their mind, body, and soul and invoke a sense of wellbeing.
Unionwear Improves Production Capacity Planning with Rootstock & Salesforce
Unionwear is the trade name, URL and DBA of New Jersey Headwear Corp., which manufactures and embroiders headwear, bags, accessories, work wear and safety gear. Unionwear currently operates a 45,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Newark. Unionwear sells through a nationwide network of several hundred promotional products distributors. As the premium paid for domestic production shrinks, more and more markets are enforcing labor standards in their procurement, such as colleges, federal, state, and local governments, as well as corporations with strong union workforces – for employee gear, and non-profits.
For the past ten years, Unionwear has focused on providing products to clients requiring products to be made in the USA and is not forced to compete with imports on price. The US military and federal government accounts for half of the business with clients like labor unions and presidential campaigns representing much of the balance.
UTG Mixing Group stirs up ERP from scratch
Uutechnic OY - founded in 1993 and headquartered in Finland - specializes in the demanding technology of mixing solutions. Specially manufactured to meet almost any specific heavy industrial need, Uutechnic’s equipment-solutions serve a variety of large capacity conditions. Uutechnic has developed into a respected global brand for mixing technology and serves mining, fertilizing, pulp/paper processing, and chemical industry clients.
