Good software management facilitates growth: investing smartly in the right software is always an investment that protects your future.

Growth, in one form or another, is always in the back of every business owner's mind. Yet growth a can have as many definitions as there are people with opinions. To you, it might mean adding people. Or you may see it as the ability to grow in efficiency and flexibility. You might be looking at the cost of capital necessary to add production capability. It may simply mean keeping your eye on a shifting marketplace and putting yourself in the position to move economically in the right direction.

To some, growth is a scary word. To others, it's an exciting challenge. No matter how you view growth, it's inevitable in today's fast moving woodworking world. Something is going to happen that will affect the future of your business. Understanding this, today's smart shops always keep the future in mind and try to plan for it.

Think Ahead

Remember that classic sign "Think Ahead" where the dangling "d" doesn't quite fit? The way that circumstances change and opportunities emerge these days, that old joke may be more relevant than ever. If you buy a piece of land for a new plant, shouldn't you plan to buy a little extra in ease you need to expand? When you buy a router, don't you ask about options and upgrade possibilities?

Picking your software provider should follow the stone sound thinking. Just like word processor software made the "dangling" a thing of the past, good manufacturing software packages will have built in growth protection. Look for suppliers where your initial investment will always be the basis for your next step forward. Don't accept a low initial cost package with a dead end future.

With software from an innovative provider, you will find that with the built-in growth potential, a lot of the future thinking has already been done for you. First, you will find that most top-tier software suppliers provide a number of package levels from which to choose, ranging from basic to advanced.

Buy What You Need

Many companies like to ease into their software commitment. Even a basic package should provide a wood products company with software rich in content, offering many opportunities for production expansion and productivity improvement. This kind of package, often bought for one specific machining operation, should include standard features such as nesting, drilling, 2-D contour cutting, pocketing and easy drawing tools. Other core features to look for include the ability to read and write a variety of CAD formats and "links" to the most popular design software.

A good basic package will even include advanced technology like "raster to vector" capabilities that let you machine scanned artwork, and Full Associativity, which is the timesaving feature that immediately updates toolpaths when the CAD drawing or cut strategy changes. You also may want to cheek for on-screen cut simulation, so you can see your part "cut" before you actually put material on the router, if your operation is based on producing high-quality 2-D pieces, a basic package can give you what you need and still give you room for growth within the package.

As you look to the future, it's a good idea to make sure your software supplier offers a "no-lose" upgrade path. In order to help you make your first software purchase an investment in the future, your upgrade to another level package or a special option should only cost you the difference in the two packages. This way you never lose what you spend on your initial software purchase, while keeping your growth options open.

As your business expands, taking advantage of a software package's "no-lose" upgrade path can be a cost-effective way to meet new demands. By upgrading to an advanced CAM package, you can acid powerful new cutting capabilities including complex 3-D modeling and machining. If you own a five-axis router, advanced CAM options also should help you take full advantage of the machine with a comprehensive set of multi-axis toolpath choices. In addition, specially "add-ons" will let you pick and choose that one perfect software tool to complete your digital toolbox, such as engraving or advanced nesting.

Stay Current Without Busting the Budget

Some software suppliers even offer continuous software updates, which would allow a user at any level to easily upgrade to the latest, developments and newest technology, and in some cases even get exclusive pre-release features for that extra edge. This is a nice situation, as it can keep a company technologically current without the need for mid-year budget requests. Even if you never need to move up to more complex features within your CAM package, selection of the right supplier in the beginning is like an insurance policy for your technological future.

Growth can be much more than bricks and mortar and people. The options for growth to meet competitive changes in the marketplace are left wide open by the way you purchase software. Good software programs are designed to help the customer think freely and comfortably about how they want, to grow. Growth in capability and responsiveness is often the true key to success in today's wood products business, and it is that kind of growth that can really make your company more vibrant and provide significant competitive advantages. The intelligent put chase of software will make a company smarter, more responsive to market changes and more efficient; factors that lead to enhanced profitability and optimum performance.

Growth is inevitable. The way you buy software can also make it very practical.

Right Taft is the product manager at Mastercam Router CAD/CAM, CNC Software of Tolland, CT. He can be reached by e-mail at [e-mail]