Wisconsin Metal Tech’s leadership set an ambitious goal to double the company’s revenue without adding administrative staff. The greatest obstacle was the company’s aging Shoptech E2 system, which couldn’t support the company’s complex processes and made it necessary for employees to rely on spreadsheets, printouts, and workarounds. With minimal in-house IT staff, Wisconsin Metal Tech began looking for a cloud ERP system that offered robust manufacturing capabilities.
Some manufacturers strive to be the leading vendor for companies in a particular industry. Wisconsin Metal Tech aims to be the go-to CNC machining partner for any company that needs a single-source manufacturer. Based on its ability to source materials, design parts, and build to specifications, the company has attracted clients from industries as diverse as aviation and food service.
“Our customers come to us because we provide excellent customer service and are willing to work with them on lead time, pricing, and expediting orders,” says Laura Luft, Materials and IT Manager, Wisconsin Metal Tech. “They don’t have to go to three different vendors because we can take care of everything under one roof. If it’s a complex job that other manufacturers don’t want to touch—that’s where we really shine.”
Until recently, Wisconsin Metal Tech ran its business on the Shoptech E2 system. But the company found itself relying on various workarounds that involved printouts, pen-and-paper work, and manual data entry. Quality management varied from one department to the next, often revolving around spreadsheets and handwritten documents. It was nearly impossible to track materials and inventory—and data analysis was a chore. These challenges were standing in the way of daily operations and the company’s growth plans.
“Nearly our entire team had issues with our E2 system,” recalls Luft. “Our president was frustrated with how simplistic the financials were, so we needed something with stronger business operations capabilities.” More importantly, our owner had his sights on doubling the size of the business and perhaps considering future acquisitions—all without adding administrative headcount. He saw our Shoptech system as an obstacle to that goal.”
