In today’s transactional world, it is easy to focus solely on availability and timely delivery of needed parts as a measurement of distribution platform effectiveness. While it makes sense that timely delivery is the ultimate performance metric, it is not the only one that you should be tracking. In other words, the story does not stop there.  

When you look at the features of a Distributor Quoting Platform, you need to look beyond functionality to determine what it contributes in the way of bottom-line savings. For example, being able to streamline the procurement process through a match of line item requirements and identified supplier capabilities, significantly reduces the time it takes to source parts. This capability as well as others within the platform will, in turn, free up valuable resources to focus on managing sourcing and delivery exceptions or take on more clients within your existing resource infrastructure. For each organization, the calculation of the benefit will be different, but meaningful.

Shippers Supply, Inc. is an independently owned and operated wholesale distributor of shipping, packaging, industrial and productivity/equipment solutions. Founded in 1928 in Hopkins, Minnesota, the company has 32 employees and serves the upper Midwest.  

Shippers Supply had outgrown their current systems and needed a more complete solution that would provide CRM, SFA (sales force automation), BI (business intelligence), and would sync data from their Infor10 Distribution Express (FACTS) ERP system. They also wanted a system that would allow them to access information from mobile devices and would give them the ability to analyze and manage their sales pipeline.

Todd Snover, Advisory Services Supervisor in the Business Process and Systems Group will be presenting at the ASQ-STL Fall Conference on Thursday, November 8, 2018 in UMSL's Millennium Student Center.

His presentation will show how including business process tools in your Quality System will enhance consistency, reduce cost, and promote a ‘process-focused’ culture that embraces continuous improvement. Topics covered will include process classification frameworks, BPMN process mapping, benchmarking, Theory of Constraints, and applications of key Lean Six Sigma tools.

The 2018 Mid-Year Supplement Guides are now available. These guides provide everything you need to know when beginning your software selection and evaluation process.

Developed through a partnership with Industrial Distribution, Industrial Supply, Contractor Supply Magazine and Brown Smith Wallace Advisory Services, these 12-page Supplement Guides provide valuable, independently researched information.