Cold Jet transforms business operations with Epicor manufacturing solution

Epicor Software Corporation, a leading provider of enterprise business software solutions for the midmarket and divisions of the Global 1000, has announced Cold Jet, LCC has greatly improved communication across its global operations and gained better control over inventory with Epicor Vantage, a flexible enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed for mid to large sized progressive make-to-order (MTO) and mixed-mode manufacturers.

Cold Jet is the pioneer in the research and development of dry ice blasting and dry ice production technology, setting the standard for quality, performance and reliability in the field.  Founded in 1986 on the idea of creating cost-effective, environmentally responsible and technologically advanced dry ice solutions, Cold Jets solutions are an effective and cost-effective way for many industries to maximize production capability and quality.

Cold Jet is a truly global operation, with its production facility based in Loveland, Ohio, the company has warehouses located in California, Belgium and Canada, offices in Hong Kong, Mexico and Germany, plus a network of distributors worldwide.  According to Michelle de la Vega, Business Applications Manager for Cold Jet, Epicor has given them a comprehensive enterprise-wide solution that brings all areas of the company together and provides solid tools for managing inventory, production, engineering, finance, and customer service.

We wanted a system that could bring it all together and help us better communicate across functional areas within the enterprise, de la Vega continued.  Vantage was the best fit for our company and the way we operate.

Cold Jet has experienced better coordination between departments and locations, eliminated messy and error-prone weekly data uploads and conversions, and improved overall business performance since implementing Epicors manufacturing solution.

Better Inventory Control and Visibility

With Epicor, Cold Jet has seen dramatic improvement in the availability of information and the level of coordination and cooperation between departments.  We have better control of our inventory and now that engineering is on board theres better coordination between engineering, production and purchasing, said de la Vega.  Vantage has brought the teams together.  Cold Jet has experienced direct, measurable benefits as well: inventory days-on-hand is down by 43% and receivables days-outstanding has been cut by 15%.

The Move to SOA and Microsoft SQL Server

In 2006 Cold Jet moved to Epicors next generation manufacturing solution and the Microsoft SQL Server database, and has found even more ease and capabilities of their Epicor system.  Leveraging Microsoft .NET and Web services technology, Vantage 8 features a 100% service-oriented architecture (SOA) offering new levels of application reliability, scalability, system interoperability and flexibility, combined with a rich user experience and low total cost of ownership.

Vantage does a great job of bringing all these aspects of our company together into one database.  We are much more coordinated between departments now and work together better than before, de la Vega said.

Epicors easy-to-use global manufacturing solution is delivered out of the box with built-in workflow processes that enable manufacturers to manage the entire order cycle, from Marketing and Sales through Production and Planning, Sourcing and Procurement, Installation and Service, and finally Financial recognition.  For global manufacturers like Cold Jet, communication is critical to success, said Rod Winger, senior director of product marketing for Epicors manufacturing and supply chain management solutions.  Delivering greater business agility through a flexible SOA and distributed common database, Vantage provides the ability to access the right information, from the right source, at the right time, empowering all users throughout the supply chain to make valid, informed decisions.

About Epicor Software Corporation

Epicor, named one of FORTUNE magazines 100 Fastest-Growing Companies in 2006, is a global leader dedicated to providing integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM) and professional services automation (PSA) software solutions to midmarket companies and divisions of the Global 1000.  Founded in 1984, Epicor serves over 20,000 customers in more than 140 countries, providing solutions in over 30 languages.  Employing innovative service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Web services technology, Epicor delivers end-to-end, industry-specific solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality and services that enable companies to drive increased efficiency, improve performance and build competitive advantage.  Epicor solutions provide the scalability and flexibility to meet today's business challenges, while empowering enterprises for even greater success tomorrow.  Epicor offers a comprehensive range of services with its solutions, providing a single point of accountability to promote rapid return on investment and low total cost of ownership.  Epicors worldwide headquarters are located in Irvine, California with offices and affiliates around the world.