QAD Case Studies CK Technologies: Leveraging QAD Explore for Continuous Improvement

	CK Technologies: Leveraging QAD Explore for Continuous Improvement QAD

CK Technologies: Leveraging QAD Explore for Continuous Improvement

QAD

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
Applicable Industries	Education Plastics
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Additive Manufacturing Manufacturing Process Simulation
Services	Testing & Certification Training
Challenge	CK Technologies, a leading thermoplastics solutions provider in the North American commercial heavy truck market, faced a significant challenge in maintaining continuous improvement in their business practices. This was particularly difficult due to the nature of their low volume, high variability business. The company produces a wide variety of parts for multiple customers, supplies parts for current truck models, and also the service parts for past design versions. They are also one of the first companies in the industry to supply parts in body color for each customer, approximately 1,400 colors a year, which have to be perfectly sequenced for shipment. This complexity in their operations made it challenging to stay informed and inspired to accomplish continuous improvement. Read More
About Customer	CK Technologies is a market leader in the North American commercial heavy truck market, providing large plastic injection molded parts and assemblies. Their products can be seen on tractor-trailer cabs, buses, and large trucks around the world. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cascade Engineering, was formed in 2002 with one manufacturing facility and 60 associates. It has since grown to have four manufacturing locations and 825 associates. Their annual revenue has increased over 1,000% since they began manufacturing. CK Technologies is committed to continuous improvement in all of their business practices. Read More
Customer Name	CK Technology, Read More
Solution	CK Technologies found a solution in attending QAD Explore, an annual event where the QAD community of customers, sponsors, and experts come together for informative sessions, hands-on training, and stimulating discussions. The company has been attending Explore since 2012, and over the years, more employees have taken advantage of the Explore experience. Prior to travel, the group determines CK’s Explore schedule and decides which sessions to attend. They also decide the best times for visiting the Solutions Expo, a gathering of all the Explore sponsors in one place. Then they set daily team meetings at the event to collaborate on the information and networking gathered each day. This approach has allowed them to learn from other companies, gain insights into the latest trends, and plan for the future. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Applicable Industries

Education

Plastics

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Additive Manufacturing

Manufacturing Process Simulation

Services

Testing & Certification

Training

Challenge

CK Technologies, a leading thermoplastics solutions provider in the North American commercial heavy truck market, faced a significant challenge in maintaining continuous improvement in their business practices. This was particularly difficult due to the nature of their low volume, high variability business. The company produces a wide variety of parts for multiple customers, supplies parts for current truck models, and also the service parts for past design versions. They are also one of the first companies in the industry to supply parts in body color for each customer, approximately 1,400 colors a year, which have to be perfectly sequenced for shipment. This complexity in their operations made it challenging to stay informed and inspired to accomplish continuous improvement.

About Customer

CK Technologies is a market leader in the North American commercial heavy truck market, providing large plastic injection molded parts and assemblies. Their products can be seen on tractor-trailer cabs, buses, and large trucks around the world. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cascade Engineering, was formed in 2002 with one manufacturing facility and 60 associates. It has since grown to have four manufacturing locations and 825 associates. Their annual revenue has increased over 1,000% since they began manufacturing. CK Technologies is committed to continuous improvement in all of their business practices.

Customer Name

CK Technology,

Solution

CK Technologies found a solution in attending QAD Explore, an annual event where the QAD community of customers, sponsors, and experts come together for informative sessions, hands-on training, and stimulating discussions. The company has been attending Explore since 2012, and over the years, more employees have taken advantage of the Explore experience. Prior to travel, the group determines CK’s Explore schedule and decides which sessions to attend. They also decide the best times for visiting the Solutions Expo, a gathering of all the Explore sponsors in one place. Then they set daily team meetings at the event to collaborate on the information and networking gathered each day. This approach has allowed them to learn from other companies, gain insights into the latest trends, and plan for the future.

Impact #1	Attending QAD Explore has provided CK Technologies with both immediate and long-term results. The company has been able to use new tools already available within QAD to more quickly and easily view data. They have also been able to streamline their financial reporting by leveraging best practices shared by their peers. The event has also sparked interest in future projects, including continuously upgrading QAD solutions to harness new functionality as it becomes available, elevating quality in the organization through QAD Quality Management System, and conducting consulting sessions with QAD experts to better plan continuous improvement priorities.

Impact #1

Attending QAD Explore has provided CK Technologies with both immediate and long-term results. The company has been able to use new tools already available within QAD to more quickly and easily view data. They have also been able to streamline their financial reporting by leveraging best practices shared by their peers. The event has also sparked interest in future projects, including continuously upgrading QAD solutions to harness new functionality as it becomes available, elevating quality in the organization through QAD Quality Management System, and conducting consulting sessions with QAD experts to better plan continuous improvement priorities.

Benefit #1	Improvement in inventory record accuracy by 20%
Benefit #2	A reduction in shipment discrepancies by 70%
Benefit #3	Better planning and production scheduling, eliminating cumbersome spreadsheets

Benefit #1

Improvement in inventory record accuracy by 20%

Benefit #2

A reduction in shipment discrepancies by 70%

Benefit #3

Better planning and production scheduling, eliminating cumbersome spreadsheets

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Overview

CK Technologies: Leveraging QAD Explore for Continuous Improvement

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit