Macola Software's light manufacturing solution is industry first.

MARION, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 1997--Macola Software, a longtime provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) manufacturing solutions for networked and Windows environments, has created one of the first light manufacturing solutions in the industry, the Manufacturing Planning and Control (MPC) suite. The suite offers a full manufacturing, planning, execution, and analysis systems specifically designed to support the specialized needs of distributors, assemblers and quick-turn manufacturers.

The suite consists of three modules and provides full planning capabilities with the Master Scheduling (M/S) and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) modules, both recently placed in Early Release, and a light execution and feedback loop with the Production Order Processing (POP) module, which is in General Release.

The Early Release of M/S and MRP also begins the introduction of Macola's ERP solution, for those manufacturers who require the extensive functionality found in this manufacturing suite. The ERP suite is expected to be fully released by year's end.

Realizing that not all companies require the complexities of a full-blown ERP solution, Macola created the MPC suite to meet the light manufacturing needs of those companies. With a reduced investment, ease of entry, and quick implementation time, the MPC suite is a complete manufacturing solution with the capabilities to meet users' manufacturing needs.

However, as businesses grow, they may discover that the expanded features offered by ERP are required. MPC seamlessly integrates with Macola's other manufacturing modules, allowing effortless expansion into an ERP solution.

According to Lou Unkeless, vice president of Macola client services, Macola's MPC sets a foundation for a company's future growth by providing a complete solution that meets their essential manufacturing needs while recognizing the unique requirements and limitations of quick-turn manufacturers. "Macola's manufacturing offering is unique in the marketplace. With multiple solutions to satisfy a broad marketplace, we can address the needs of a wider variety of manufacturers. And with MPC's ability to expand into an ERP solution, we can also address the future needs of companies," said Unkeless. "As they grow, features and modules that were once not needed can be seamlessly added to meet the new needs of the company."

In order to provide a comprehensive solution to the quick-turn manufacturing market, Macola has enhanced its M/S and MRP modules to provide the necessary functionality to meet the diverse needs of that industry.

Master Scheduling Enhancements

Master Scheduling is an integral part of driving a manufacturing system in a make-to-stock environment. A variety of enhancements have been added to the package to amplify its flexibility and power.

The Available to Promise Inquiry provides companies an easy, on-line ability to effectively promise delivery dates of products by allowing them to visually check on the status of future inventory. Recognizing the needs of make-to-order manufacturers, Macola's ATP also lets users determine the availability of subassemblies and component items.

The Rough Cut Capacity Inquiry is used to show how the Master Schedule utilizes the capacity of the company and whether or not the current Master Schedule is feasible within its current capacity. This function acts as feedback to users and to the master scheduling process when significant changes have been made to the Master Schedule or plant facilities.

A few of the many other improvements made to Version 7.0 Master Scheduling include:

-- A Variable Capacity Work Center Calendar that visually displays the shop calendar and allows users to drill down on a date and see the details of production occurring on that date.

-- Multiple "What If" Master Schedules for testing production plans and capacity availability. These "What If" schedules also have the ability to drive MRP on a "What If" basis.

-- Visibility on multiple warehouse locations. V7.0 M/S maintains the approach of a single manufacturing site, multiple warehouse operation.

Material Requirements Planning Enhancements

With the enhancements made to Macola's MRP, the function is now a more visual and interactive process with on-line graphs that make material planning comparisons easier. Additionally, MRP has also been enhanced in the following areas:

-- The Windows environment and Macola's unique drill down feature make examining and addressing exceptions easier and more efficient. With the drill down feature, users can drill down into exceptions and make changes immediately to the material plan.

-- MRP has on-line pegging with drill downs to the source of demand or supply. These drill downs trace paths through the Macola system instead of printing out an overwhelming pegging report, extensively cutting down the time it takes to examine this report.

-- Streamlined conversion of computer-planned orders, helping reduce the number of steps to create an execution order from a firm planned order or a computer planned order.

-- Netting against unlimited locations with the ability to select one or many locations, including the Receiving/Inspection and Material Review Board (MRB) Locations.

-- MRP provides serial/lot effectivity, looking at initial quantities of items based on serial/lot expiration.

Version 7.0 MRP also provides users with net change reporting, which identifies the changes between the previous material plan and the updated plan. "To respond to the needs of users, Macola's MRP offers both regeneration for companies desiring a more stable material plan and net change reporting for companies requiring the most current information," said Unkeless. "This helps with the nervousness associated with constantly changed environments and meets the needs of a variety of manufacturing markets."

Rounding out the MPC suite

Completing the light manufacturing functionality of the MPC suite is the Production Order Processing (POP) module, which has been in General Release for several months. Some POP features that satisfy this high velocity, kitting, assembly, and quick-turn environments include:

-- Automatic creation of production orders driven directly from a customer sales order or through a simplistic, time-phased scheduling process. Back orders are automatically filled by POP and prepared for shipment.

-- Production orders created from historical information, providing a customer with a same "as built" offering.

-- POP allows demand orders to automatically generate lower level production orders.

-- Seamless integration with Macola's Accounting modules to provide Work-in-Progress (WIP), Value-Added costs such as labor and overhead, and absorption and variance tracking in the General Ledger.

-- Macola's superior Drill Down capabilities, first available in Version 7.0 core Distribution modules, are now supported in POP, providing users global visibility of the entire production order process. By drilling down through inquiry screens, users can quickly and accurately access all pertinent information related to a specific production order.

Complete Manufacturing Solution

According to Lisa Burris Arthur, Macola's vice president of marketing, the multiple manufacturing solutions provided by Macola's MPC and ERP suites make it one of the most complete manufacturing products available. "We are very excited by our client/server Windows manufacturing solution," said Burris Arthur. "We feel it can provide users with a comprehensive solution to their manufacturing needs when they are in start-up mode, as well as when they achieve success and grow in their industry. This scalability allows our manufacturing solution to grow with a user."

Company Information

Macola Software specializes in the development of high-end accounting, distribution and manufacturing software for personal computers and LAN environments. With worldwide installations of nearly 16,000 sites and more than 175,000 users, Macola has a presence in more than 30 countries. Macola was named in the February 1996 issue of Windows Magazine as one of the Top 100 Software Products for 1995. Macola is a four-time winner (1987-1993) of the PC Magazine/Price Waterhouse "Editors' Choice" award and a 1995 winner of an Honorable Mention award. Macola was also ranked first in the 1994, 1995 and 1996 CTS Software Accounting Survey. For 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997, Macola was named to Accounting Today's list of "Top 100 Accounting Software Products," and was included in Manufacturing Systems' 1994 and 1996 choices of "Top 50 Manufacturing Software Vendors." Macola's MRP II software also has received a "Readers Choice" award from Manufacturing Systems. Macola is a recipient of a four-star rating from Software Digest/NSTL Publications and a two-time winner of LAN Magazine's Product of the Year award.

For more information about Macola Software products, contact the Macola Response Center at extension 550. Callers in the United States and Canada can dial 800-468-0834, and those outside the U.S. and Canada can dial 614-382-5999. Information also can be obtained by visiting Macola's web site at www.macola.com . For public relations-related questions, call Phyllis S. Butterworth, manager of public relations, at extension 242, or David E. Whitehead, public relations specialist, at extension 209.

CONTACT: Macola Software

Media Relations Division, 800/468-0834

Phyllis S. Butterworth, ext. 242

David E. Whitehead, ext. 209