OpenTrac Blog

We're Headed to Fabtech!

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:43:19 -0400

We're Headed to Fabtech 2012!

In-House ERP Systems vs. Cloud Computing

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:38:10 -0400

A new article, In-House ERP Systems vs. Cloud Computing, from Northrop Grumman, is featured in the Summer 2011 edition of IT Solutions - Metal Center News.

Lean Supply Chain Manufacturing Model Article Featured In Iron & Steel Technology Magazine

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:30:00 -0400

The article A Lean Supply Chain Manufacturing Model, written by our own Gary Marzec and Jennifer Hauge, has been featured in the June 2011 edition of AIST's Iron & Steel Technology magazine. This is an in-depth look at the challenges of managing manufacturing, and the different opportunities...

ERP Software Article Featured In Metal Center News

Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Northrop Grumman was recently featured in the article April 2011 Metal Center News article ERP Software: A Positive Leading Indicator. Please check out the article over on their website for more details on how Northrop Grumman has perceived the bounceback from the subsiding recession.

Steel Making: Through the Years

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0400

I was reading a Q&A session regarding the steel industry, and it piqued my interest to write on how the industry has progessed since the beginning. I have the originial transcript linked for you to enjoy.

- Jennifer Hauge Marketing Representative, Northrop Grumman

SaaS Growth: Past, Present & Future

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0400

I was curious of how the IT industry has changed in the last decade or so, particuarly with SaaS and cloud computing. I found several relative articles that i've linked for you to look at as well. It will be really interesting to see how cloud computing develops for manufacturing in the next couple of years.

Enjoy!

Jennifer Hauge

Marketing Representative, Northrop Grumman

Supply Chain Strategy

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400

With the start of the New Year approaching, here is some food for thought on supply chain strategy that can help to set some goals for 2011.

supply chain management bottle neck

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Ever get those production schedules mixed up? Thus having to deal with an angry boss? Look at OpenTrac Director to help fix those supply chain discrepancies.

Metal Industry Trends

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400

With the industry creeping out of the recession, this is a look at 2011 in terms of production, technology and raw material prices for steel.

Top 10 Reasons to Move to the Cloud

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

10 more reasons to look at cloud applications over on-premise systems.

IT & Manufacturing - A Necessary Evil?

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The manufacturing realm has experienced a boom for the need of IT resources in the last decade. So how do companies curb and manage these resources effectively? This post will look at some different options, and why SaaS may be the better choice for some companies.

Titanium 2010 Conference in Review

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Back from our trip toTitanium 2010 conference in Orlando, Florida. Click for more details on the proceedings, and what we learned about the Titanium Industry.

Titanium 2010 Conference

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

This week, we're at the Titanium 2010 conference in Orlando, Florida. Come on by and check out our booth, or come hear our talk on Lean Supply Chain Management. Click below for more details.

Fixing Broken Supply Chains

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Supply chains become more complicated every day. If you think you're the only one experiencing communication problems, lack of visibility, long lead times for material, etc, don't worry, you're not alone!

Advancements in ERP Modules

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Manufacturing today is structured differently than in the last few decades. Mergers, acquisitions and divestements account for interesting business models. Having ERP systems to manage these models can make doing business easier. If you feel that it's time to look into upgrading, their are some things to consider that involve the use of new technologies. Read more to find out!

Putting SaaS and Cloud Computing To Work for You

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

You may have heard of AJAX, the web application phenomena that took the internet storm around 2005, but did you know that the core capabilities of AJAX functionality had been available since 1996? It wasn’t until someone found a practical use for the technology, gave it a name, and put it to work that it took off nine years later.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), a subset of what is now known as Cloud Computing, is very similar, as the ability to deliver SaaS applications has been around as long as web servers have connected to databases; long before the term was coined in 2001.

The Black Box Problem

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

During my schooling in Computer Science, one of the recurring ideas that we dealt with was Black Box vs. White Box processes. If you’ve never had to deal with them, a Black Box process is one where we know what goes in and comes out, but not what happens in between. Conversely, a White Box process is transparent and all the internal workings can be examined.

When it comes to Supply Chain Management, especially in the cases of Toll Processing and Toll Manufacturing, dealing with processors or manufacturers as Black Box processes in the Supply Chain can be a risky proposition...

Document Handling Costs - Why Going Paperless is the Better Choice

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Ever wonder the actual cost of handling all that paperwork everyday? New research has it at more than $50 a document! Here's some information on how to reduce this overhead burden.

How Can Computer to Computer Data Exchange Make Your Supply Chain More Efficient?

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

In most supply chain scenarios, there are many parts of the supply chain that need to work smoothly together to make sure you have the most efficient and cost effective strategy to manage your supply chain. EDI (or Electronic Data Interchange) is a very broad term that can be defined as a structured way to send electronic information between computers without any human intervention. There are many different protocols and technologies that can be used today to transmit this information.

Why Cloud Computing Helps Improve Your Bottom Line

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We’ve all heard it stated that Cloud Computing can help save your business money, and you’re probably skeptical about the claims of savings. Well, we’re here today to break down those savings for you. We’re going to start by examining seven key categories of system implementation and upkeep that can be applied whether we’re talking about implementing an on-site solution or a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) remote implementation in the Cloud, like OpenTrac: