Epicor Announces Alliance With Largest Provider Of Lean Manufacturing Technologies
"Increasingly our customers are realizing that developing a lean enterprise requires bridging information islands within the organization to enable six-sigma levels of process quality, eliminate process waste, and provide management with real-time visibility and control," said Craig Allen, vice president of strategy and business development for AMG.
"The addition of Epicor's manufacturing solutions brings our clients industry-leading software tools for optimizing process efficiency, enhancing quality control and improving overall operating results. Epicor's midmarket strength and over 6,500 manufacturing customers worldwide, makes its solutions a natural fit for our team of industry experts and manufacturing process engineers, who provide technology guidance to clients looking to reduce manufacturing costs while improving technical advantage."
Meritage Inc. is North America's largest supplier of integrated manufacturing solutions, including lean/six-sigma process engineering, robotics, machine tools, advanced measurement technologies, and a range of specialty technologies designed to improve manufacturing efficiency and throughput. AMG is a proven integrator of lean technologies to manufacturing organizations of all sizes, from small job shops to Fortune 100 global corporations, crossing every industry including aerospace, automotive, semi-conductor, medical, oil & gas, energy, defense and electronics, to name a few.
High-Performance, Lean Manufacturing Expertise
For their joint manufacturing customers, Epicor and AMG share a common objective, to develop lean manufacturing capabilities, and optimize manufacturing efficiency and throughput.
According to AMR Research, "Software applications complement lean manufacturing with improved data visibility, speeding information flow for problem resolution, design changes, quality issues, and changing customer demand." (The AMR Research Report, January 2002, "Enhancing Lean Manufacturing with Software Applications" by Michael Burkett) Moving beyond theory and achieving lean results requires the appropriate blend of people, process and technology.
This alliance offers Epicor and AMG joint customers a powerful tool in their efforts to maintain a competitive advantage, bringing together Epicor's leading-edge manufacturing software solutions with AMG's sixty-years of practical shop floor experience and manufacturing expertise. Epicor manufacturing customers will benefit from access to AMG's certified lean and six-sigma specialists, who work closely with manufacturers to assess their specific manufacturing methods and capabilities including, plant flow and logistics, product design, manufacture and assembly.
AMG also brings its RaPiD™ Production Monitoring and Control System to Epicor manufacturing customers. Designed to fit each manufacturer's unique business environment, RaPiD Web-enables and monitors production equipment and processes in real-time. Production performance data is compiled, stored and broadcast in real-time, empowering manufacturing executives with the information they need to streamline and optimize operational performance.
"Our relationship with AMG is unique to the industry, with a software vendor and manufacturing engineering and equipment vendor joining forces to bring the shop floor closer to the front office," said Mike Wingrove, director of channel sales for Epicor's Manufacturing Solutions Group. "By integrating its RaPiD technology with Epicor's manufacturing solutions, AMG will bring shop floor visibility to the executive level through real-time data collection, reporting and analysis."
About "The Advanced Manufacturing Group," a Meritage Company
A subsidiary of Meritage Inc., The Advanced Manufacturing Group in cooperation with its Meritage distribution affiliates, serves North American metalworking manufacturers and their global supply chain partners. With ongoing projects in six continents, it has a growing international focus and presence. AMG consults with manufacturers on how to realize competitive advantage and improve operating results through lean practices, product and process engineering, and the integration of lean manufacturing technologies.
Meritage Inc. was founded in 1999, by combining the three largest North American machine tool sales, engineering and service companies. Meritage Inc. is the parent company of 30 subsidiaries all dedicated to providing high-impact solutions and top of the line equipment to the metal working community. Meritage Inc. is a privately held company with operating centers throughout North America, and extended operations in Europe.
About Epicor Software Corporation
Epicor is a leading provider of integrated enterprise and eBusiness software solutions for midmarket companies around the world. Founded in 1984, Epicor has over 15,000 customers and delivers end-to-end, industry-specific solutions that enable companies to immediately improve business operations and build competitive advantage in today's Internet economy. Epicor's comprehensive suite of integrated software solutions for Customer Relationship Management, Financials, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Professional Services Automation and Collaborative Commerce provide the scalability and flexibility to support long-term growth. Epicor's solutions are complemented by a full range of services, providing single point of accountability to promote rapid return on investment and low total cost of ownership, now and in the future. Epicor is headquartered in Irvine, California and has offices and affiliates around the world. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.epicor.com.