Sage Case Studies RFB&D: “Learning Through Listening” With Sage 500 ERP

Edit This Case Study Record

	RFB&D: “Learning Through Listening” With Sage 500 ERP Sage

RFB&D: “Learning Through Listening” With Sage 500 ERP

Sage

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Enterprise Asset Management Systems (EAM) Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
Applicable Industries	Education
Applicable Functions	Discrete Manufacturing Human Resources
Use Cases	Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling Inventory Management
Services	System Integration
Challenge	Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) was facing a significant challenge with their existing Blackbaud and RaisersEdge software. The software could not support sophisticated manufacturing processes, coordinate multi-location recording schedules, or manage finances. The organization, which operates like a major corporate manufacturer, was relying on an antiquated accounts payable system, a financial package designed for small nonprofits doing donor management, and scheduling processes. The organization needed a solution that could manage everything from sales and inventory to back-end financials and scheduling. Read More
About Customer	Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) is a nonprofit library based in Princeton, NJ. The organization has 22 locations and employs 500 full-time staff and 6,000 volunteers. RFB&D provides books on CD and tape for users with print disabilities. The organization has a library of over 100,000 titles, all recorded by volunteers in 29 studios around the country. The process of creating and distributing these titles is complex, requiring careful allocation of studio booth time according to book inventories, release dates, and volunteers’ availability. Read More
Solution	RFB&D selected Sage 500 ERP with a full complement of financial and manufacturing modules, and implemented it across the enterprise over 15 months. The software manages everything from sales and inventory to back-end financials and scheduling. Once a book is selected for recording, the project is assigned a work order in Sage 500 ERP. The book is then divided into sections. Routing slips are sent to notify appropriate studios with the parts they will record. When it’s time to burn a CD, studios dial up Sage 500 ERP in Princeton with their routing number. Through the Advanced Planning and Scheduling module, all projects are consolidated on a Schedule Board. Custom reports allow RFB&D managers to view scheduling and status data however they like. The Advanced Manufacturing module in Sage 500 ERP has also allowed RFB&D to implement just-in-time manufacturing for greater efficiencies and cost controls. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Enterprise Asset Management Systems (EAM)

Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)

Applicable Industries

Education

Applicable Functions

Discrete Manufacturing

Human Resources

Use Cases

Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling

Inventory Management

Services

System Integration

Challenge

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) was facing a significant challenge with their existing Blackbaud and RaisersEdge software. The software could not support sophisticated manufacturing processes, coordinate multi-location recording schedules, or manage finances. The organization, which operates like a major corporate manufacturer, was relying on an antiquated accounts payable system, a financial package designed for small nonprofits doing donor management, and scheduling processes. The organization needed a solution that could manage everything from sales and inventory to back-end financials and scheduling.

About Customer

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) is a nonprofit library based in Princeton, NJ. The organization has 22 locations and employs 500 full-time staff and 6,000 volunteers. RFB&D provides books on CD and tape for users with print disabilities. The organization has a library of over 100,000 titles, all recorded by volunteers in 29 studios around the country. The process of creating and distributing these titles is complex, requiring careful allocation of studio booth time according to book inventories, release dates, and volunteers’ availability.

Solution

RFB&D selected Sage 500 ERP with a full complement of financial and manufacturing modules, and implemented it across the enterprise over 15 months. The software manages everything from sales and inventory to back-end financials and scheduling. Once a book is selected for recording, the project is assigned a work order in Sage 500 ERP. The book is then divided into sections. Routing slips are sent to notify appropriate studios with the parts they will record. When it’s time to burn a CD, studios dial up Sage 500 ERP in Princeton with their routing number. Through the Advanced Planning and Scheduling module, all projects are consolidated on a Schedule Board. Custom reports allow RFB&D managers to view scheduling and status data however they like. The Advanced Manufacturing module in Sage 500 ERP has also allowed RFB&D to implement just-in-time manufacturing for greater efficiencies and cost controls.

Impact #1	Sage 500 ERP contributed to a double-digit increase in book production through better scheduling and information flow.
Impact #2	The software has allowed RFB&D to implement just-in-time manufacturing for greater efficiencies and cost controls.
Impact #3	The organization is using its resources to greater effect and seeing steady improvements in the amount of time spent on financial management.

Impact #1

Sage 500 ERP contributed to a double-digit increase in book production through better scheduling and information flow.

Impact #2

The software has allowed RFB&D to implement just-in-time manufacturing for greater efficiencies and cost controls.

Impact #3

The organization is using its resources to greater effect and seeing steady improvements in the amount of time spent on financial management.

Benefit #1	Recorded 5,000 books in a year, representing a double-digit increase in production.

Benefit #1

Recorded 5,000 books in a year, representing a double-digit increase in production.

Download PDF Version

Overview

RFB&D: “Learning Through Listening” With Sage 500 ERP

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit