Forecasting With Real Numbers, Not Guesstimates, Thanks To IFS Applications
Gables Engineering, an avionics manufacturer in business for more than fifty years, builds custom cockpit controls for the airline and airframe industry. Gables manufactures traffic collision avoidance systems (TCAS) panels, radio control panels, and audio systems. Besides designing and building the electrical assemblies, Gables also designs and builds the switches, housings, and LCD display modules. Customers include Boeing and Airbus Industries. The component-based business applications package from IFS has enabled Gables to move forward by looking forward.
The Challenge
In 1995 Gables formed a team to examine its business processes and decided it needed a new enterprise application package. At that time, Gables had a pseudo-MRP system based on reorder points. The system looked at current customer demand, as well as historical demand, and then the buyers had to fudge and figure out, "What do I really need to buy?" It was a process best described as moving forward by looking backward.
The company wanted a product using the Oracle database that had a Windows look and feel, one that would seamlessly interface with other third party systems. An RFQ sent out to numerous vendors zeroed in on key functions as specific as a minimum 23-character field for part numbers and as general as efficient MRP, inventory control, and forecasting functions.