Intelligent Manufacturing € January € 1997 € Vol. 3 € No. 1

Square D Synchronizes Its Supply Chain

Square D Co. (Palatine, Ill.; http://www.squared.com), a manufacturer of electrical distribution, automation and industrial control products, is implementing supply chain synchronization software as the first of a multi-plant installation that will include manufacturing sites throughout the U.S. The company will use the synchronization software manage its complete production process from design engineering through shipment of final product. The goal is to decrease order-to-delivery cycle times, increase productivity and improve customer responsiveness.

The Synchronization Manufacturing solution, developed by SynQuest Inc. (Norcross, Ga.; http://www.synquest.com), will coordinate shop floor activities and the flow of manufactured parts through a multi-step process that comprises custom engineering, metal fabrication, winding, casting, assembly, testing and kitting. This software will enable Square D to know exactly where each order is on the shop floor at a given time, when an order can move to the next operation for successful execution, and ultimately when it will be ready to deliver to the customer.

By implementing a single system to coordinate its complex shop floor activities, Square D hopes to drive down cycle times, inventory and work-in-process, while becoming more responsive to customers. These productivity gains, coupled with the agility and flexibility possible with real-time scheduling, it is hoped will allow Square D to accept additional business each year.