MIS--Automation Preparation

"It was a waste of time because we had to redo a lot of work," Osting says. "When we created an estimate, it was a standalone estimate. It didn't turn into a job ticket. And the inventory wasn't integrated."

While a full-blown integrated system delivers obvious benefits, it can also add up to an expensive investment. Intelligencer's Hagen OA system—which covers estimating, order entry, inventory, scheduling and shop floor data collection—won't go live until the beginning of 1999, and the company has already spent $500,000 for hardware, software and training. Still, Brody is very confident that the system's benefits will offset the costs.