Automotive Tier One Supplier Somic America Employs New ERP-MRP Platform

Rockwell Automation announced that Tier One automotive supplier Somic America, Inc., a manufacturer of ball joints and steering components, has chosen Plex, by Rockwell Automation as its new enterprise resource planning (ERP) and manufacturing execution systems (MES) provider. With this initiative, Somic sought to create a foundation for growth, to increase efficiency, and to decrease non-value-added activities across its manufacturing processes. The firm, a subsidiary of Somic Ishikawa in Japan, has U.S. facilities in Wytheville, VA, and Brewer, ME.

In seeking a new ERP and MES solution, Somic dug deep into its processes and detailed many areas of improvement possible with modern, integrated platforms. Three major pillars came to light: its disconnected systems produced disconnected data that proved difficult to collect and analyze; it needed to integrate technology to optimize production control; and the firm sought an actionable, fully integrated quality-management solution.  Data aggregation—burdensome and labor intensive—led to inefficient planning and scheduling and a lack of visibility to work-in-progress inventory. These factors, among others, gave way to selecting Plex, by Rockwell Automation, to realize benefits across multiple workstreams. Among them: order to cash, procure to pay, production scheduling, asset management and maintenance, automated data collection, quality management, inbound and outbound electronic data interchange (EDI), and accurate deliveries to customers. 

Plex has now provided Somic with a connected plant floor, digital production tracking and real-time dashboards.

Says Frank Alley, vice president, finance and administration at Somic America: “We are so pleased that we decided to audit and understand our existing systems first. This gave us the best information on what we need for our future state. Then, the real drivers for selection are the anticipated benefits of utilizing Plex’s end-to-end ERP and manufacturing solutions, across a single, connected database and a common user experience for our associates.”

See also: Plex, A Rockwell Automation Company, Plex By Rockwell Automation

Technologies: Management

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