Case Studies SYSPRO Case Study: Suhor Industries

Edit This Case Study Record

	SYSPRO Case Study: Suhor Industries

SYSPRO Case Study: Suhor Industries

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Database Management & Storage
Applicable Industries	Construction & Infrastructure Agriculture
Applicable Functions	Business Operation Quality Assurance Sales & Marketing
Use Cases	Inventory Management Predictive Replenishment Process Control & Optimization Remote Collaboration Remote Control
Services	System Integration Software Design & Engineering Services Training
Challenge	This ongoing drive toward quality growth and the necessity to become Y2K compliant drove the company to seek a new ERP software solution in 1998. Suhor had been experiencing the problems common to a company using an evolving set of inflexible software programs. Moreover, each location was responsible for backing up its own data. Without a central repository, a location crash and lack of data back-up would result in a loss of the data. According to Jeanette Geiser, Suhor Treasurer, the company quickly realized that future profitable growth could only be accommodated by centralizing financial information and consolidating data for budgeting analyses and control purposes. Read More
About Customer	Suhor Industries, based in Overland Park, Kansas, is a highly diversified company with five divisions and 36 manufacturing locations in 11 states. Originally founded in 1933 as a manufacturer of concrete burial vaults, Suhor has expanded its product range to include burial vaults, monuments and memorials, veterans memorials, engraved brick pavers for fundraisers, retaining wall blocks, wastewater systems, and agricultural products. The company now boasts over 80 sites, including 36 manufacturing locations and 19 warehouses, with 700 employees processing more than 10,000 orders per month. Suhor’s products are distributed regionally and nationally through diversified channels, catering to funeral homes, retail outlets, contractors, communities, and veteran groups. The company prides itself on offering quality products backed by quality service, responding like a local company despite its national presence. Read More
Solution	Suhor established a list of new system requirements, including a highly automated solution, accounting software to accommodate multiple locations, easy system interface for remote users, comprehensive inventory tracking, and system scalability. After evaluating candidates, SYSPRO ERP software was selected for its excellent manufacturing and production control system, depth of functionality, and ability to capture detailed data. The SYSPRO software operates on Microsoft SQL on a Microsoft Windows 2000 platform and Citrix Metaframe, connecting all Suhor locations through an Internet-based VPN. Of the 64 licensed system users, 50 are online concurrently. The software’s flexibility, real-time inventory tracking, and ability to consolidate sales information have enabled Suhor to grow efficiently, minimize inventory, and assist with forecasting and inventory planning. The centralized data storage under corporate control has also enhanced security and reduced dependency on regional offices for data management. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Database Management & Storage

Applicable Industries

Construction & Infrastructure

Agriculture

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Quality Assurance

Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Inventory Management

Predictive Replenishment

Process Control & Optimization

Remote Collaboration

Remote Control

Services

System Integration

Software Design & Engineering Services

Training

Challenge

This ongoing drive toward quality growth and the necessity to become Y2K compliant drove the company to seek a new ERP software solution in 1998. Suhor had been experiencing the problems common to a company using an evolving set of inflexible software programs. Moreover, each location was responsible for backing up its own data. Without a central repository, a location crash and lack of data back-up would result in a loss of the data. According to Jeanette Geiser, Suhor Treasurer, the company quickly realized that future profitable growth could only be accommodated by centralizing financial information and consolidating data for budgeting analyses and control purposes.

About Customer

Suhor Industries, based in Overland Park, Kansas, is a highly diversified company with five divisions and 36 manufacturing locations in 11 states. Originally founded in 1933 as a manufacturer of concrete burial vaults, Suhor has expanded its product range to include burial vaults, monuments and memorials, veterans memorials, engraved brick pavers for fundraisers, retaining wall blocks, wastewater systems, and agricultural products. The company now boasts over 80 sites, including 36 manufacturing locations and 19 warehouses, with 700 employees processing more than 10,000 orders per month. Suhor’s products are distributed regionally and nationally through diversified channels, catering to funeral homes, retail outlets, contractors, communities, and veteran groups. The company prides itself on offering quality products backed by quality service, responding like a local company despite its national presence.

Solution

Suhor established a list of new system requirements, including a highly automated solution, accounting software to accommodate multiple locations, easy system interface for remote users, comprehensive inventory tracking, and system scalability. After evaluating candidates, SYSPRO ERP software was selected for its excellent manufacturing and production control system, depth of functionality, and ability to capture detailed data. The SYSPRO software operates on Microsoft SQL on a Microsoft Windows 2000 platform and Citrix Metaframe, connecting all Suhor locations through an Internet-based VPN. Of the 64 licensed system users, 50 are online concurrently. The software’s flexibility, real-time inventory tracking, and ability to consolidate sales information have enabled Suhor to grow efficiently, minimize inventory, and assist with forecasting and inventory planning. The centralized data storage under corporate control has also enhanced security and reduced dependency on regional offices for data management.

Impact #1	The SYSPRO software has enabled Suhor to double its business since implementation, providing flexibility and efficiency in operations.
Impact #2	Real-time inventory tracking has helped minimize inventory levels and improve inventory planning.
Impact #3	The software’s ability to consolidate sales information has assisted with forecasting and provided an accurate foundation for management decisions.

Impact #1

The SYSPRO software has enabled Suhor to double its business since implementation, providing flexibility and efficiency in operations.

Impact #2

Real-time inventory tracking has helped minimize inventory levels and improve inventory planning.

Impact #3

The software’s ability to consolidate sales information has assisted with forecasting and provided an accurate foundation for management decisions.

Benefit #1	The sales analysis report, previously requiring 80 hours to complete, is now generated in as few as six hours.
Benefit #2	The company has more than doubled its business since the implementation of the SYSPRO software.
Benefit #3	Previously, month-end reporting required 2 to 3 people and took five days; now, it takes two individuals and is completed in two days or less.

Benefit #1

The sales analysis report, previously requiring 80 hours to complete, is now generated in as few as six hours.

Benefit #2

The company has more than doubled its business since the implementation of the SYSPRO software.

Benefit #3

Previously, month-end reporting required 2 to 3 people and took five days; now, it takes two individuals and is completed in two days or less.

Download PDF Version

Overview

SYSPRO Case Study: Suhor Industries

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit