Print MIS systems can help you manage your in-plant’s production and improve its efficiency, while collecting crucial shop floor data.

By Bob Atkinson

Typical starter systems include estimating/quoting, job dockets, job progress, cost tracking, basic management reporting and integration with existing accounting systems. Remember, many of these systems are easily expandable, so you can add capabilities as you need them.

• Make sure you involve everyone who will be using the system in your considerations: sales, customer service representatives, estimators, managers, accounting people and production staff. You will need their perspective on the requirements and the problems they face every day, as well as their consensus and buy-in to the whole process. If people don’t like a system or if they feel their needs were not considered, they will be less likely to want to learn and use it.