| out | | | | repetitive, make-to-stock manufacturer, where there is |
| ERP and CAD Integration in Engineer-to-Order | | | | a clear demarcation between design and production. In |
| Environment spoken about by Encompix’s | | | | that environment the engineer designs the product in a |
| Chuck Stewart | | | | CAD application. After testing and prototyping, the |
| Chuck Stewart is Executive Vice-President of | | | | product is released to production, which is managed by |
| Engineer-to-Order (ETO) Enterprise Resource Planning | | | | the ERP system. |
| (ERP) software Encompix based in Cincinnati, Ohio. | | | | The design engineer has little or no interaction with the |
| Stewart said, If you ask design engineers what an | | | | ERP system and works quite happily in a CAD |
| ERP system means to them, you are likely to hear | | | | environment. Following the work of the design engineer, |
| something like nothing or more work. | | | | a production engineer then creates a bill of materials |
| Stewart asserts in the February issue of | | | | (BOM), based on how it will be manufactured, not on |
| Automation.com, In the Engineer-to-Order (ETO) | | | | how the product is designed. |
| world the role of the design engineer is very different. | | | | is for manufacturers and suppliers of industrial, factory |
| By its nature an ETO company builds a unique product | | | | and process automation, motion control, machine |
| designed to meet the specification of a single | | | | control, process control and instrumentation products |
| customer. The two worlds of design and | | | | and services. attracts engineers, programmers, |
| manufacturing are closely linked. In many cases the | | | | designers, technicians and other professionals who |
| design of the product continues through the product | | | | specify, purchase and use control systems, software, |
| process (design-in-process), incorporating a multitude of | | | | robotics, sensors and other supporting products to |
| engineering changes. These changes can be driven by | | | | automate machines, equipment and factories in both |
| the customer or by the manufacturer. In this | | | | discrete and continuous manufacturing processes. |
| environment a seamless flow of data between | | | | Encompix ( has filled the manufacturing software |
| engineering and production is critical. An ETO company | | | | requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since |
| must integrate CAD and ERP. | | | | 1992. The company name reflects the commitment to |
| The current issue of includes a feature article by | | | | developing business application solutions that |
| contributing editor, Thomas R. Cutler about ERP and | | | | encompass the complex areas of project-based and |
| CAD integration in the ETO (Engineer-to-Order) | | | | job-based manufacturing. Encompix provides ETO |
| Environment. According to Cutler’s feature, | | | | manufacturers with a competitive advantage by |
| traditional ERP systems were developed for the | | | | improving bottom line results. |