Case Studies Michigan Ladder Company: Leveraging ERP for Future Success

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	Michigan Ladder Company: Leveraging ERP for Future Success

Michigan Ladder Company: Leveraging ERP for Future Success

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
Applicable Industries	Equipment & Machinery
Applicable Functions	Business Operation
Use Cases	Inventory Management Supply Chain Visibility
Services	Training
Challenge	Michigan Ladder Company, a family-owned business in Ypsilanti, Michigan, has been experiencing steady growth for decades. However, despite the recession, the company is preparing for the future by making more advanced use of Exact Software’s Macola Progression®, their ERP system. The company implemented Macola ten years ago but has never used it to its full capacity. In early 2009, it became apparent that employees needed more system training for greater ERP proficiency. The challenge was how to afford comprehensive training for their 20-person workforce. Hiring an on-site consultant or traveling to attend class was too costly. Past training from their reseller had proved ineffectual. The company needed a way to provide high-level training at a low cost. Read More
About Customer	Michigan Ladder Company is a family-owned business based in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The company has been in operation for over 100 years and has a lean 20-person organization. It is one of the top ladder brands in the U.S., with customers like the New York Fire Department and the U.S. Army. The company's products include aluminum, wood, and fiberglass ladders. Despite the recession, the company is preparing for the future by making more advanced use of its ERP system, Exact Software’s Macola Progression®. The company is focusing on inventing the future and preparing for when the economy rebounds. Read More
Solution	The solution came in the form of Exact’s Unlimited Training Plan. The first year, more than 90% of Michigan Ladder employees took 4–6 classes, each without incurring major expense. The cost savings on Exact’s unlimited training was profound and instrumental in allowing more people to use Macola to do their jobs more efficiently. After one year, Michigan Ladder signed up for a second year. Interactive, lab-based training and working with their own information accelerated the learning process. So far, one employee or another has enrolled in every Macola training class, some for a second time. The company has never had to travel or bring an instructor on site. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)

Applicable Industries

Equipment & Machinery

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Use Cases

Inventory Management

Supply Chain Visibility

Services

Training

Challenge

Michigan Ladder Company, a family-owned business in Ypsilanti, Michigan, has been experiencing steady growth for decades. However, despite the recession, the company is preparing for the future by making more advanced use of Exact Software’s Macola Progression®, their ERP system. The company implemented Macola ten years ago but has never used it to its full capacity. In early 2009, it became apparent that employees needed more system training for greater ERP proficiency. The challenge was how to afford comprehensive training for their 20-person workforce. Hiring an on-site consultant or traveling to attend class was too costly. Past training from their reseller had proved ineffectual. The company needed a way to provide high-level training at a low cost.

About Customer

Michigan Ladder Company is a family-owned business based in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The company has been in operation for over 100 years and has a lean 20-person organization. It is one of the top ladder brands in the U.S., with customers like the New York Fire Department and the U.S. Army. The company's products include aluminum, wood, and fiberglass ladders. Despite the recession, the company is preparing for the future by making more advanced use of its ERP system, Exact Software’s Macola Progression®. The company is focusing on inventing the future and preparing for when the economy rebounds.

Solution

The solution came in the form of Exact’s Unlimited Training Plan. The first year, more than 90% of Michigan Ladder employees took 4–6 classes, each without incurring major expense. The cost savings on Exact’s unlimited training was profound and instrumental in allowing more people to use Macola to do their jobs more efficiently. After one year, Michigan Ladder signed up for a second year. Interactive, lab-based training and working with their own information accelerated the learning process. So far, one employee or another has enrolled in every Macola training class, some for a second time. The company has never had to travel or bring an instructor on site.

Impact #1	Online training was affordable, effective and unlimited
Impact #2	An advanced use of Macola yields efficiencies in several areas including order entry, AP, and inventory management
Impact #3	Greater automation of order entry and inventory management strengthens competitiveness

Impact #1

Online training was affordable, effective and unlimited

Impact #2

An advanced use of Macola yields efficiencies in several areas including order entry, AP, and inventory management

Impact #3

Greater automation of order entry and inventory management strengthens competitiveness

Benefit #1	$11,075 savings first year with Unlimited Plan
Benefit #2	Company averaged 4-6 Macola training sessions per employee per year
Benefit #3	90% participation due to flexibility, convenience and high caliber instructors

Benefit #1

$11,075 savings first year with Unlimited Plan

Benefit #2

Company averaged 4-6 Macola training sessions per employee per year

Benefit #3

90% participation due to flexibility, convenience and high caliber instructors

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Overview

Michigan Ladder Company: Leveraging ERP for Future Success

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit