The Importance of Manufacturing Software as a Single-Source Solution

When customers tour our facility at GTR Manufacturing, it’s usually the big equipment that catches their eye. They see our robotic sheet metal fabrication systems operating without operator intervention or our machining equipment producing precise, detailed features, and they’re happy to know we’re on the cutting edge. But the reality is that, in today’s landscape, the manufacturing software behind the scenes is just as critical to your results. 

You may not notice it during a tour, but the impact of software on your project is clear. Learn how our investments lead to more efficient manufacturing and greater repeatability for your projects.

The Digital Backbone of Our Operation

Manufacturing software has transformed every stage of the production process. Because we act as a single-source solution metal fabrication company, proper software enables seamless communication between departments and locations from quoting to scheduling to final delivery. 

Here are several of our key tools and the value they bring to your project:

Paperless Parts for Fast Quoting

The RFQ process is often the first step of a manufacturing project, and with a new customer, it might even be our first impression. 

Paperless Parts streamlines our quoting, as well as our customer communications, allowing us to flag design for manufacturing (DFM) issues and respond with clear feedback. In the hands of our expert estimators, this allows us to deliver accurate and reliable quotes quickly.

Epicor ERP for Long-Term Reliability

Epicor is central to our operations, tracking every step of production. It enables optimized planning while also providing detailed process documentation. In an era when many manufacturers worry about tribal knowledge and succession planning, Epicor ensures that our processes and best practices are recorded, ensuring long-term stability for our long-running business.

Programming Software: AP100, Dr. ABE, and More

For programming efficiency, we use specialized software for many of our machines, including  AP100 on our turret punch press and Dr. ABE on our press brakes. These platforms optimize programming for efficiency and also allow us to store and reuse successful programs. Repeat jobs are faster, and new employees can quickly get up to speed on established projects.

Seamless Integration for Faster Production

One of the major advantages of our software suite is its ability to integrate and connect our operations across departments and locations. Paperless Parts and Epicor, for instance, are integrated, allowing us to take a quote generated in Paperless and seamlessly transfer it to Epicor. This integration automatically builds a traveler and reduces manual data entry, saving time for estimating, engineering, and ultimately for our customers.

By having the same programming software across all our facilities, we can shift production to another location if one shop is at capacity. That flexibility helps us maintain throughput and meet deadlines without unnecessary delays.

Technology Powered By Our People

Of course, manufacturing software is only as good as the people who leverage it. New systems can be hard to pick up, but our team has shown the versatility and adaptability to embrace these changes. By quickly learning these tools, they deliver faster results and greater consistency for our customers.

That attitude is just an extension of the ethic that allows us to deliver the highest quality to our customers every single day. Whether you need custom sheet metal fabrication, metal finishing, or any other capability from our single-source solution, we’re here. Request a quote today and let’s make your next project a success!