HPC

We specialize in improving information flow and access within and between departments, locations, functions, and trading partners. Our objective is to improve your company's performance on critical, recurring business processes, such as those listed below. World-class performance in these processes typically requires the effective deployment and integration of advanced information systems.

Product development, engineering and launch
Marketing, sales and customer management
Forecasting and planning
Production and order fulfillment
Distribution and logistics
Change and configuration control
Material and supplier management
Resource management
Project and program management
Business planning
Other vital processes involving multiple groups and trading partners.

Our associates can assist in the planning, specification, design, selection, development, integration and implementation of the systems listed below. We maintain research files on leading software suppliers for the most common applications. In addition, we maintain a network of specialists for in-depth assistance, in the event that unusual or detailed applications exceed our prior experience.

Web Store Front
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Sales Force Automation (SFA)
Product and Sales Configuration
Forecasting and Demand Management
Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Automatic Identification
Supply Chain Planning and Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS)
Supply Chain Event Management (SCEM)
Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP)
Quality Management Systems (QMS)
Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), including Factory Automation
Electronic Data Interchange and Electronic Commerce (EDI/EC)
Manufacturing Engineering/Computer-Aided Process Planning (CAPP)
Computer Aided Design and Engineering (CAD, CAE)
Product Data Management (PDM)
Facilities and Plant Engineering
Maintenance Management (MMS)

We work at all levels of your organization. We contribute to all stages of your systems integration program -- from awareness and motivation, through implementation of better methods, software, and hardware. All specification and selection work is independent and unbiased. We do not sell or resell computer software or hardware. We use our powerful methodology called MAXiT-ISI and a broad range of tools and techniques, tailored to each client situation. Our role is to help our clients acquire and build the best systems for their needs, and achieve lasting results through timely, effective implementation.

Our services include:

Strategic Information Systems Planning: Multi-year information systems plan for your organization to insure that information systems support corporate strategies, business unit plans and future process, organizational and facility needs. Decision analysis: focus or mission, level of improvement needed, what information systems need the most improvement; potential applicability of new technologies, etc.
Supply Chain Information Systems Planning: Multi-year information systems plan for multiple organizations in different companies. Purpose is to insure that information systems support corporate strategies, business unit plans and future process, organizational and facility needs. Supports all aspects of customer management, distribution, production and procurement, including integration of customers and suppliers with your company's internal operations.
Information Systems Assessment: Evaluation of the ability of existing and planned information systems to meet current and future needs. Assessment of applications software, databases, networks, hardware, integration, training and the process of delivering and supporting information systems.
Functional Specifications: Definition of system function and data requirements, based on reviewing flows of goods, services and information. Preparation of written specifications, transaction definitions, and feature-function checklists to guide packaged software selection or custom development work. Scripting of software demonstrations to confirm functional fit.
Process and Information Modeling: Visualizing physical flows of materials and associated information flows using our MAXiT methods and Integrated Flow Diagramming technique. Clarification of new or revised business processes, to guide software selection and development. Development of data model and data definitions to drive system development, selection or integration.
System Architecture and Configuration: Definition of the technical aspects of information systems, including servers, networks, PCs, automatic data collection, printers, etc. Establishing technical standards and preferred suppliers.
Integration Planning: Defining data exchanges and technical methods of linking applications and databases to serve multiple sites and trading partners. Establishing data management standards.
Software Selection: Reviews of available products and suppliers. Preparation of short lists and requests for quotation. Numerical, unbiased evaluations of suppliers and products. Managing supplier demonstrations to minimize effort and calendar time while maximizing team learning and the effectiveness of the software decision.
Project Management: Coordination of all of the above as well as assistance in coordinating company, supplier and consultant resources during implementation.
Education: On-site courses of 1, 2, 3 days, focused on how to use our MAXiT-ISI methodology to assess, plan, design, develop, select and implement information systems. More information

Please see our list of Typical Projects for a description of some of the ways we have helped our clients.

When needed, information systems integration may be delivered together with one or more of our other services. For information on our other consulting services, see the following:

There is always a better way…

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