Engineering & Manufacturing

Efficiency and accurate communication are vital for companies in the engineering and manufacturing industries. Automation reduces mistakes and simplifies processes while accurately tracking inventory, orders, and deliveries can make or break a business.

An ice manufacturing and distribution client we worked with initially came to us for a database that could track orders and capacity with future projections. As we built their custom software, they were impressed with our work and the capabilities of the FileMaker platform. We added the ability to manage and send invoices, keep track of customers, schedule personal, and handle dispatch for deliveries. Additionally, we were able to better assist them with managing energy costs through inventory management, which reduced their overhead costs.

Specialized structural engineering firms can assess insurance claims and the associated damage to determine the validity of the claim. One such client already had a database built by a different company, but they had many struggles. By starting with a code review, we were able to immediately improve some functionalities while adding additional ones, before moving on to a complete UI/UX redesign. Engineers are now able to use their phones in the field to assess damage and capture photos. When they return to an area with cell reception or wifi, one sync button uploads all of the information and details to their database, and merges reports if multiple engineers were on the same site. An engineer in the office is able to quickly review the information and write a summary, then send their report to clients in a short amount of time—which far exceeds the industry standard and is consequently greatly appreciated by the insurance companies they work with. Additionally, the meteorologist they have on staff is able to build and track associated reports within the database to determine if the damage found matches the reported weather of the incident. In these situations, the firm has saved their clients hundreds of thousands of dollars on various claims.

We’ve also worked with a military supply manufacturer that has contracts with multiple special operations forces globally. Due to strict regulation—notably the requirements for ITAK—this client needed software that was more advanced than a simple inventory system, they also needed an advanced supply management system to track where shipments were sent along with the countries they passed through in the delivery process. For future growth, the client also had us develop data modeling tools so they could more accurately project their supply needs. Beyond the ERP we designed to fulfill these needs, we also created a CRM to track communications with clients around the world.

Two customers—a waterslide engineering company and a fashion manufacturer—struggled to update information across systems, particularly when it came to accurate online ordering. We built them websites that seamlessly integrated with internal FileMaker databases. When information was changed in their software, the website automatically updated to reflect this new information, reducing time-consuming information management. These sites included features such as allowing customers to create custom products that were sent to the FileMaker database for final review, online shopping carts for purchasing, and access to architectural drawings. Both clients experienced an increase in sales while reducing their administrative workload.

For an aviation engineering company, we created a database that tracked parts, built engines, scheduled ordering, and calculated commissions. To prevent wide-spread defects, they had a variety of suppliers for each individual part. Our software allowed them to create engines by assigning specific companies to every piece. Then, the software took the necessary lead times for each producer along with when it was needed in the assembling process to schedule when parts should be ordered to ensure accurate delivery time. In the event that a part would fail, the company was able to track that sub-sector for specific recalls. Additionally, employees received commission based on the cumulative cost savings for each assembly and the software was able to calculate that based on the suppliers and cost for individual engine builds.

One of our first clients was a food supply distributor. Before computers were common outside of corporate environments, they needed a way to accurately provide updated product information to their sales personnel. The database we built for them created print-outs with that week’s product and profit margin information—in short-hand language specific to the company—for their representatives to have at off-site meetings. Employees had updated information, but in such a manner that passersby didn’t recognize the information to prevent their proprietary information from being acquired by competitors. Additionally, the database handled creating invoices for customers.

An energy engineering and manufacturing client provides project management to several regional energy companies. They’re able to track data about their process and use well-crafted access levels to prevent delays in the manufacturing stages while securing confidential or restricted information. They’ve been able to eliminate delays without adding additional staff, increasing their efficiency. Additionally, they track supply levels at various sites and dispatch for maintenance and repair processes.

PK Information is a FileMaker-certified development agency with offices in the Tampa Bay and Knoxville regions, but serving all of the USA. We believe that great software can change everything. Does your company work in engineering or manufacturing and need new technologies to operate at your best? Contact us today!